KCR’s lavish gold offerings in Tirumala

The days of extravagant kings and queens, their palatial residences, their massive donations to the gods and their huge vows are not over, definitely not in Telangana.

Telangana Chief Minister, K.Chandrashekar Rao today offered Rs. 5.6 crore worth jewellery to the Tirumala deity as part of his vow after achievement of separate Telangana.

Accompanied by his family and some cabinet ministers, KCR who left to Tirupati on a special flight yesterday, handed over a golden garland studded with fossilised shells called “Shaligram Haram” and a multi-layer gold necklace called “Makhara Kantabharanam,” totally weighing about 19 kg and worth about Rs 5 crore to the temple Executive Officer, D Sambasiva Rao this morning. He also presented a huge nose-stud to the goddess Padmavathy in Tiruchanur.

This is the highest offering to the Lord Venkateswara temple by any state government in the history of independent India. But the question arises as to the logic behind giving taxpayer’s money to fulfil personal vows. Nothing really has changed in the feudal attitudes that still continue in India.