Kadapa’s Young Changemaker Restores Ancient Temple Pond

Kadapa’s Young Changemaker Restores Ancient Temple Pond (The new Indian express)

In a heartening act of community spirit and heritage restoration, 30-year-old adventure traveller Pippalla Balanagireddy from Gollapalli village, Duvvur mandal, Kadapa district, spearheaded a major clean-up drive at the ancient temple pond (Koneru) of the Jalashiva Rama Temple in Idamadaka village. The initiative aimed to restore the neglected sacred pond, which had suffered years of pollution and abandonment.

On Sunday, nearly 80 volunteers from across Visakhapatnam, Kadapa, Mydukur, Proddatur, and Idamadaka gathered at the site. Members of the Badi-Gudi organisation also lent their support. The team dedicated over five hours to remove layers of plastic waste, liquor bottles, silt, and debris that had overtaken the pond.

The movement began when Balanagireddy posted a video a week prior, highlighting the temple’s condition with a powerful message:

“Let’s stop waiting for others – let’s clean it ourselves.” The video quickly gained traction online, inspiring support from locals and volunteers who rallied behind the cause.

As part of the restoration, volunteers cleaned the idols of Lord Rama, Lord Shiva, and Lord Chennakesava, performing traditional rituals including applying turmeric and vermilion to the sacred sculptures. The Jalashiva Rama Temple, believed to date back to the 7th or 10th century, is rich in heritage, with stone carvings from the Ramayana, including the scene of Lord Rama cutting seven palm trees with one arrow and the Samudra Manthan myth involving gods and demons.

Located in isolation near a busy highway, the temple pond had been turned into a dumping ground, with sculptures damaged and a foul stench due to accumulated waste and vandalism. The decay was the result of neglect, lack of awareness, and urban encroachment. At the event, Balanagireddy emphasised the importance of local responsibility in preserving cultural assets.

“We must not wait for outsiders to preserve our heritage. It’s up to us villagers to protect these sites and pass them on to future generations.” The clean-up drive witnessed active participation from both men and women of the village. Their collective effort reflects a rising awareness about temple preservation, community action, and heritage conservation.

This initiative serves as a beacon of youth-led transformation, showing how small steps rooted in devotion and responsibility can breathe new life into sacred yet forgotten places.