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Following criticisms drawn by the dumping of temple waste along the Pavagadh hill, where the Kalika Mata temple is located, the temple trust on Tuesday prohibited devotees from offering coconuts without the husk.
The vendors have also been warned against selling coconuts after removing the husks as coconut coir made up for the maximum waste found dumped on the hill.
On Tuesday, the temple trust of Kalika Mata — the Shaktipeeth dedicated to Goddess Kali —made an announcement that from March 20, devotees would only be allowed to offer coconuts without the husks peeled off to the deity and also collect the same as prasad and take it back with them.
Vendors, too, have been warned against selling peeled coconuts and anyone found selling peeled coconuts would be penalised, the trust said.
The trust also announced that the devotees will be checked at various entry points right from Dudhiya talav to ensure that no one brings along coconuts that have husks peeled off.
The directive comes days after pictures of the temple waste along the Pavagadh hill were widely shared on social media.
The trust on Tuesday said, “There is no prohibition on offering coconuts… but like we could do away with plastic waste after cooperation from vendors, similarly, we are also trying to reduce the waste from coconuts and other temple offerings to keep the premises clean… A cconut collection centre was earlier located at Dudiya Talav and now, one will be located at Machi. The devotees can either hand over the coconut to the temple office if they do not wish to take it back or they can take it back as prasad.”
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