Faith and Responsibility

Are We Really Respecting Our Temples?
A few days ago, I visited one of Rajasthan’s famous temples, a place I have always loved visiting. I had been there around ten years ago too, and the difference was quite noticeable.
With the growing number of visitors, the temple authorities have made several good arrangements for crowd management, parking, washrooms and other facilities. But despite all these efforts, one thing was disappointing—the amount of garbage around the temple.
I saw people eating snacks, drinking juice and throwing wrappers and cups on the ground instead of using dustbins. The washrooms provided outside the temple were also in terrible condition, with an unpleasant smell spreading far beyond the area. Even the large parking space had been turned into a dumping ground in some places.
But the real question is: If facilities are provided, why don't we use them responsibly?
When facilities are missing, we are quick to question the authorities. But when they are provided, why don't we question our own behaviour?
We come to temples seeking peace, faith and purity. So, can we really call ourselves devoted if we leave the place covered in our own waste?
The temple committee can provide dustbins, washrooms and parking spaces—but who will take responsibility for keeping them clean?
Perhaps respecting a temple is not only about praying inside it. Perhaps it is also about leaving it as clean and peaceful as we found it—or even better.