Kollam: The Devaswom Department stated that the expenses for festival, holy offering and Tantri Dakshina are mere extravagances. The controversial remark is included in the government order issued revising the salary of the temple staff under Malabar Devaswom Board.

Though this is applicable to Malabar Devaswom Board, it is feared to affect other boards also as the direction was made by the Devaswom Department.

In a portion that explains about curbing the expenditure of temples, it is directed that the expenses for festivals, holy offerings and Tantri Dakshina should be reduced to minimum. However, the organisations including Tantri Mandalam stated that these are unavoidable customs according to beliefs and they should not be treated as extravagance.

The government order pointed out that the salary and other benefits announced for the temple staff are not properly dispersed as the expense increases. It has been directed to consider expenses for offerings and Tantri Dakshina as establishment expenses and this should not exceed over 50 percent.

The order also instructs that conducting festivals and counting of hundial collection are official jobs of the temple staff and so no additional payment or allowance should be paid to them for this. It is the responsibility of the staff to stop the functioning of parallel committees which extract the income of the temple, the Devaswom Department said.