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Pilgrim Centres are the early adopters of Solar Energy

Holy shrines are now radiating solar energy along with spiritual energy by marrying spirituality with sustainability

Pilgrimage is experiencing resurgence around the country. These are visited by a large number of people daily and so there is a ballooning demand of energy sources. The energy demands are largely met by fossil fuels. But to fuel the growth it is important to look out for the alternative sources of energy. Pilgrim centres have taken the first step in this direction by adopting solar cooking.

India is blessed with abundant sunshine which gives ample opportunity to tap solar energy to meet the country’s growing energy needs. Thousands of people visit holy shrines daily and the ‘prasadum’ offered at these places is of utmost importance. Indian pilgrimages attract visitors from all parts of the globes throughout the year. They cater these people with a variety of food cooked in their kitchen. They have now gone green by using solar energy in various applications rather than using non renewable sources of energy. The solar energy in pilgrimages is used to cook food and to provide electricity.

Solar panels are installed at the pilgrimages to make them reliant majorly on sustainable source of energy. Dedicated buildings are now built at the holy places to cook meal for the visitors using solar energy. This has dramatically cut down the costs for LPG, diesel fuel and electricity. The solar cooking is clean, hygienic and efficient especially when cooked in large amounts. Besides cutting costs the major drive behind this is to ensure clean environment.

Various companies have come forward to provide solar solutions and have helped to install solar panels in many holy places. Golden Temple at Amritsar uses solar energy to cook ‘langar’ for the devotees. ISKCON temple at Ujjain and Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri are making use of solar energy to generate electricity. This besides providing uninterrupted power supply has also cut down the cost of electricity bills and conserves energy.

One such company supporting this green initiative in the country is Falreum Technologies which has installed solar cooking panels to cook food in holy shrines like Shirdi Temple of Maharashtra and also at world’s largest religious pilgrimage Tirumala Tirupati Temple at Andhra Pradesh. These solar panels to cook meals have helped the pilgrimages to reduce their carbon emission rates down by 1.2 tonnes per day.

Solar energy panels are positive financial investments with negative environmental costs. Use of solar cooking in pilgrims has a special significance and can provide a guide to others to adopt this technology.