Temple splurges Rs 1.3 crore on coating copper kalashes with gold

Next time you visit the Siddhivinayak temple, you may get awestruck by its new-found golden glitter.

For, the 32 copper kalashes, surrounding the main kalash in the temple, have got a dazzling new-look the pots have been coated with gold.


The new-look pots will be installed at the Siddhivinayak temple. (Inset) a gold plated kalash weighing 35 kg

According to the temple authorities, they decided to coat the copper pots as it was becoming very difficult for them to maintain and retain the shine of the overused kalashes on a daily basis.

So where did so much of gold come from? Last year, a devotee from Kolkata donated gold worth Rs 1.3 crore to the lord. "The gold has been used to coat the 32 kalashes which were made of copper.
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There are two large kalashes weighing 35kg each and 30 smaller kalashes weighing 12 kg each," temple chairman Subhash Mayekar said.

According to a temple authority, artisans were flown in from Bangalore last October to carry out the task. Each kalash has been coated with 0.3 micron of gold.

"The retouched kalashes will be opened for public viewing in a day or two," said Nitin Vishnu Kadam, the trustee of the temple.

The new-look pots will be installed during the week-long Magh utsav, which starts from February 4. "We will have various artistes performing at the temple during the festival," said Kadam.