The self service kiosk of Canara Bank at the Mangaladevi temple in Mangaluru is being used by devotees to book sevas.
| Photo Credit: Raghava M.
A self-service kiosk recently installed at the government controlled Mahatobhara Mangaladevi temple in Mangaluru for booking sevas and making donations is getting popular among devotees. Canara Bank has installed the kiosk as a part of its CSR initiative.
On an average, sevas amounting to ₹3,000 get booked every day through this kiosk which is found near the seva counter of the temple. On the day of Varamahalakshmi festival, sevas amounting to over ₹20,000 were booked, said temple hereditary managing trustee Arun Kumar Aithal.
On the other hand, the e-hundi was in existence at the ‘A’ grade Mangaladevi temple, along with other Muzrai temples, for the last few years enabling people to donate funds using UPI. But sevas were continued to be booked at the Mangaladevi temple and other temples only by paying cash. With only one ATM near Mangaladevi temple, devotees found it difficult to withdraw cash and book sevas.
Mr. Aithal said it was in March that Canara Bank installed the kiosk. Devotees can choose the language on the kiosk. After writing one’s name, a devotee has to choose between donations and sevas. Devotees can choose sevas from the list and pay the amount by scanning the QR code. A receipt that comes out has to be given to the temple priest. A guide to use the kiosk has been placed next to the machine.
The most sought seva, ‘hoovina puja’, costs ₹100, while ‘vahana puja’ for two-wheelers and four wheelers costs ₹20 and ₹30, respectively. The ‘kunkumarchane’ costs ₹40, while ‘appada puja’, ‘ashtottara puja’, ‘pushpanjali puja’, and ‘rudrabhisheka’ costs ₹50 each.
The ‘sarvajanika satyaranarayana puja’ costs ₹100, the ‘alankara puja’ costs ₹200, while ₹500 is charged for ‘nitaya mahapuja’, ‘sarvalankara puja’, and ‘belli pallakki puja’.
The ‘shashwata puja’ costs ₹2,000, while ‘sanna ranga puja’, and ‘dodda ranga puja’ costs ₹2,500 and ₹35,000, respectively. The ‘durga homa’ and ‘chandika yaga’ sevas cost ₹12,500 and ₹35,000, respectively.
The temple website mangaladevitemple.com provides facility for online donation.
Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt came to have a similar facility in August with Union Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman inaugurating the same.
Published – September 09, 2025 08:41 pm IST
