Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments S. Ramesh, on Friday, announced that 64 temples, with more than 1,000 years of history, will be renovated and refurbished at a cost of ₹125 crore. In 5 such temples, donor funds of ₹7 crore will be used for renovation.

A total of 75 fully dilapidated temples will be renovated at a cost of ₹50 crore while 75 partly dilapidated temples will be renovated at a cost of ₹35 crore. A total of 152 temples will be renovated at a cost of ₹35 crore.

Resting halls will be constructed at Samayapuram Mariamman temple in Tiruchi, Arulmigur Mariamman temple in Sattur, Virudhunagar, and Arulmigu Bagavathy Amman temple in Kanniyakumari at a cost of ₹3 crore, ₹2 crore and ₹1 crore respectively.

Pongal mandapams will be constructed in 3 temples – Arulmigu Pachaiamman Samedha Mannarswami temple in Tiruvannamalai district, Arulmigur Mariamman temple in Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore district and Arulmigu Karupparayan Temple in Coimbatore district at a cost of ₹1 crore.

Minister Ramesh also announced that music and cultural programs will be held in Arulmigu Agneeswarar temple in Thirupugalur in Nagappattinam district in the month of Chithirai in a bid to extol the Thevaram songs sung by Appar Swamigal. Furthermore, Saint Pattinathar will be celebrated through cultural programs at Arulmigu Pattinathar temple in month of Aadi. Similarly, Aalwars and Siddhars will also be celebrated in temples.

Furthermore, the ancient practice of worshipping folk deities will be celebrated by organising festivals to celebrate and acknowledge the continuation of such tradition in villages across Tamil Nadu in one temple in each zone.

Published - August 21, 2026 07:21 pm IST