Taking a cue from neigbouring Tamil Nadu, temples in Puducherry and Karaikal regions will launch 'annadhanam' (free meal) scheme from January 14 next year during the pongal harvest festival.
A decision to this effect was taken at a joint meeting of trustees of major temples here today.
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy who addressed a joint meeting of the trustees, explained the modalities of the operation of the scheme.
'Annadhanam' sponsored by the devotees would be conducted every Friday and Saturday in separate enclosures and food would be served on banana leaves, instead of in small dried leaf bowls as is done now.
Commissioner of Hindu Religious Institutions N Thillaivelu told PTI that to start with four major shrines-- (Manakula Vinayakar temple, Vedapureeswarar, Sithananda Swami and Tirukameeswar temples) and three in Karaikal (Ambagarathur temple, Dharbaraneswar and Karaikal Ammayar temples) would operate the scheme.
Food would be served on Tuesdays also in so far as Ambagarathur temple in Karaikal is concerned, he said.
Former Tamil Nadu chief minister, late Jayalalithaa, had introduced the scheme in the state on March 24, 2002.
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