HYDERABAD, INDIA, December 22: Chilkur Balaji Temple chief priests have appealed to the people not to rush to temples on January 1 as the day does not usher in the New Year as per Hindu tradition.
The practice of making it a point to visit temples on the day is an alien concept and has been creating stampede in temples, say chief priests M.V.Soundarrajan and C.S.Gopalakrishna. For Telugus, the New Year begins on Ugadi day, for Keralites on the Visu, etc. “It is ironical that temples, which are to be run as per Agama Sastras, have started special ‘Harathis’ in the midnight of December 31 and January 1,” they said.