HYDERABAD, INDIA, November 28, 2001: Up until recently, the outer walls of temple compounds have had advertising on them as well as film posters and political agendas. Desperate to maintain temples in the state of Andhra Pradesh, the government, with prompting from the Endowment Department, allowed billboards to be erected within the temple premises. Temple trustees at the Katta Maisamma temple at Begumpet have objected to the billboards, which is some cases tower above the temple own entry towers. The trustees feel that the ads are offensive and distracting to worshipping devotees and interfere with temple sanctity. Generating revenues of US$4,255 to $10,638 a year, billboard advertising is planned at eight more important temples.
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