Remedy tours take pilgrims to temples for specific cures

Tour operators of the state have given a slight tweak to temple tourism and are promoting it as ‘Remedial Tourism'.

Instead of shepherding pilgrims from within and outside the state to a host of famous temples, tour operators are taking them to holy spots which offer solutions to specific problems.

For instance, more than 12,000 tourists visited the Naga Temple located in little known Fazullabad in East Godavari district last year to get relief for Rahu Dosha. The temple was built by a Muslim officer Fazulla Khan in 1200 AD.

Similarly, "remedial" tours are being conducted to temples of deities who have powers to sort out problems ranging from family troubles to financial mess.

Temples in Muramandla and Vasanthavada villages, also in East Godavari, are witnessing heavy rush of people who have unmarried children.

Santhana Venugopala Swamy Kshetram in Nemili village of Khammam district and Pynaraju Palem of East Godavari are seeing a constant stream of couples who don't have children. Similarly, ailing people are even taken in ambulances to Mrutyunjayeswara Temple at Juittuga near Tanuku. The deity is believed to have power to restore people to health.

"Many persons who were on their deathbed got new life after visiting this place," said Mr D. Nagarjuna Sarma, managing director of Imprint, a leading tour operator.

Tourists are being shipped outside the state too. Many have been taken to Bhagheeswar in Uttarakand where Lord Siva reigns in the form of Mrutyunjayeswara and is believed to be very powerful.

Interestingly, there are also holy places which cater to mundane problems such as transfers.

Those who want transfers to preferred spots travel to pray at Sri Narasimha Temple near Eluru in West Godavari and Lord Jaganmohan Kesava Swamy temple near Ravula Palem. "Ministers, MLA and MPs don't come here since they are afraid of being shifted from their posts," said Mr Jandyala Jagannadha Sastry, a vedic expert.

Mr Sanjeev Reddy, Chief Operating Officer of Usha Tourism, said some of the temples in the ‘remedial circuit' had even got recognition from UNESCO.

Tour operators are now offering specific packages to relieve a host of astrological problems including Kuja Dosham, which prevents marriage, Guru Dosham, which creates work related crises, and Sani Dosham, which generally messes up one's life. "We are getting many enquiries," said Mr Sharma, "Last year we organised 21 tours taking about 4,000 people to various holy spots." Mrs Malati, a retired lecturer who is busy organising remedial tours for big companies, said the government should take care of temples which have such unique powers.