Union Information and Telecommunication Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had announced this scheme on May 30, this year as part of the Centre’s initiative to make the process of procuring holy water easier. The scheme launched in Patna on Sunday was extended to post offices all over the country from Monday. 

According to L Amalachandran, Chief Postmaster, Chennai GPO, the response to the service has been overwhelming as the demand outgrew supply in a matter of hours. Detailing the products, he told DTNext, “Two variants of the holy water were delivered to the GPO on Monday. While a 200 ml bottle of Gangajal sourced from Rishikesh is priced at Rs 15, a 500 ml bottle is sold at Rs 22. A 200 ml of Gangaja l sourced from Gangotri is offered at Rs 25 and a 500 ml bottle is fixed at Rs 35. We had stocked about 50 bottles from both places, and they were all sold out in just two hours. We have been receiving non-stop enquiries from customers throughout the day. 

Following the unprecedented patronage, we have placed a request to the Circle office for more bottles to meet the demand in Chennai.” Nine post offices in Tamil Nadu will have counters to sell Gangajal: These post offices include the Chennai GPO and the head post offices on Anna Road, at Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri and Erode. Customers in the left out districts, too can receive the Gangajal at their doorstep by paying a nominal fee. 

Amalachandran says, “The Gangajal will be delivered by Speedpost and the customer will have to make an advance payment at the local post office ordering the number of bottles he or she wants and the Speedpost charges (dependent on weight and distance involved). The bottles will then be delivered in 2 to 3 days to the customer’s address.”