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Devoted Devotee Sparks Temple Restoration Movement Across Two States
5 Oct
Summary
- Staunch devotee M.V. Sivakumar Reddy's initiative to clean a temple in Nandyal has grown into a mass movement.
- The NGO "Mana Ooru, Mana Gudi, Mana Badhyata" has been recognized with a state-level award.
- Volunteers from diverse backgrounds have joined the mission to clean temples, revive heritage, and foster community spirit.
In 2025, a unique initiative by a staunch devotee, M.V. Sivakumar Reddy, to clean a temple in his hometown of Nandyal has grown into a mass movement to revive temples, heritage, and community spirit across the two Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
While several NGOs focus on cleaning cities and colonies, the "Mana Ooru, Mana Gudi, Mana Badhyata" (Our Town, Our Temple, Our Responsibility) NGO is the only one working to bring past glory to the temples in the region. Launched to serve the divine, the NGO has been recognized with the state-level Swarcha Surveykshan award, and its representatives will be honored by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday.
Sivakumar Reddy, a senior official in the factories department, was shocked to see the unhygienic conditions in the Prathama Nandi temple during one of his visits. Determined to make a change, he discussed the issue with friends and secured permissions to clean the temple, despite initial resistance from the authorities. This initiative has now grown into a remarkable people's movement, with over 2,000 volunteers from diverse backgrounds joining hands to clean temples, rejuvenate ancient ponds and wells, preserve cultural heritage, and nurture a spirit of unity and service among citizens.
