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Svaccha Devalayam – Monthly Temple Premises Clean-Up Drive

Date: Sunday, 8th June 2025

Organized by: Hindumitra Foundation


As part of its ongoing initiative to preserve the sanctity and cleanliness of sacred spaces, Hindumitra Foundation successfully conducted its monthly Svaccha Devalayam temple clean-up drive on Sunday, 8th June 2025. The event saw the enthusiastic participation of 20 volunteers, ranging in age from 10 to 70 years, with a mix of newcomers and long-time associates.

A Spiritual Start

The team assembled at 6:30 AM at the temple premises, beginning the day with a sacred darshan of Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swami. After receiving blessings from the temple priest, we set out with purpose and devotion to undertake the clean-up.

Community Support Grows

Encouraged by the impact of previous drives, several donors came forward with generous contributions:

  • Soniya ji from the USA made a donation of Rs. 2500 for Svaccha Devalaya drive..

  • Harini garu from Bengaluru sent 6 trash-picking sticks and 10 pairs of protective gloves.

  • Srirama Murty garu from Visakhapatnam donated 50 pairs of protective gloves.

These supplies significantly improved our efficiency and safety.

Organized Effort in Action

The temple premises were divided into zones, and teams were formed for simultaneous action:

  • Archana, Satya, and Suguna (newcomers) picked up plastic and glass litter.

  • Sai (a newcomer), Yukti (a young engineer), Ravishankar, and Jojibabu (Port Authority employees) cleared weeds along the temple steps while Gayatri and Annapurna garu sweeped the temple steps.

  • Yerri Babu, Hari, and Adinarayana (a financial advisor and new participant) worked on another set of weed-infested steps, which we hope to focus on more intensively in future sessions.

  • Shyamala and her young son Anand took up the task of clearing the weeds around the towering Hanuman statue.


Hindumitra Janardhan garu brought large waste collection bags, which proved very helpful. The temple guard Durga offered helpful directions and personally assisted with the clean-up. Sri and Srimati Mishra, who were informed by her son who works in Bengaluru and actively participates in Hindumitra activities, and several other volunteers offered a helping hand.

The Collected Waste

In just two hours, the team collected and safely disposed of several bags of waste via an autorickshaw. Items included:

  • Plastic and glass bottles (some alcohol-related, indicating misuse of the premises),

  • Cigarette boxes,

  • Weeds and dry foliage,

  • Discarded images of deities—perhaps left behind for reasons unknown.

Educating for a Cleaner Future

Our mission is two-fold:

  1. Cleaning the sacred space, as it is the divine abode of the Almighty.

  2. Educating devotees and visitors about responsible waste disposal.

In light of this, we are planning several initiatives:

  • Distribution of awareness pamphlets,

  • Installation of environmental and cleanliness awareness boards,

  • Provision of dustbins along temple steps and key points within the premises.


A Joyous Ending

Before parting, the team sang a Sanskrit birthday song for Sai, who felt truly blessed to perform Narayana Seva on his special day. Hindumitra Srinivasa Sastry garu offered a heartfelt vote of thanks to all volunteers and donors who made this event possible. We concluded the morning with a wholesome breakfast and coffee at Swapna Tiffins, located about 2 km from the temple. The meal was graciously sponsored by Hindumitra Annapurna garu, whose constant support continues to strengthen our efforts.

Final Reflections

This clean-up drive was a deeply satisfying and spiritually uplifting effort. It demonstrated the power of collective responsibility, and the potential of selfless service in preserving our sacred spaces.


Much more remains to be done, and we, the sons and daughters of this beautiful Earth—the Atmaswarupas—must continue our journey with sincerity and dedication. Let us keep the temple—and the world—clean, sacred, and worthy of the Divine presence.

 
 
 

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