A dozen stamps can be purchased for Rs 300 and these stamps are completely legal and can be used for mailing as well.
Fancy a postage stamp with your picture on it? All you have to do is head to the post office near the Sabrimala temple in Kerala. Launched on November 16, this service is slowly but steadily seeing a rise in takers. This is also the first time that this kind of a service is being offered.
A dozen stamps can be purchased for Rs 300 and these stamps are completely legal and can be used for mailing as well. The process of acquiring these stamps is also fairly simple.
One needs to fill out an application form at the post office, the photograph of the person who wishes to get the stamps made is taken and voila 10 minutes later the stamp is ready.
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
One other unique feature of this post office is that the emblem used to seal the stamps on every incoming and outgoing mail has the hallowed 18 steps leading to the sanctum santorum of the temple of Lord Ayyappa.
Since the temple is not open all year round, the post office may perhaps be the only one in the country, which does not work round the year. The post office is open to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
In 2011 during the World Philatelic Exhibition held at Pragati Maidan in Delhi, the Indian Postal Service launched ‘My Stamp’. This is a brand name for the business development of India Post. Following a huge demand for it during the exhibition and later, it prompted the Department to launch it as a scheme for stamp lovers and general public all over the country. It came to Tamil Nadu in May 2013 and three months later was extended to Madurai Philatelic Bureau followed by Coimbatore in 2014 and Udhamanagalam in 2015.
Those who do not want self-portraits can also choose photos of their choice from images of wildlife, monuments, artwork, heritage buildings, famous tourist places, historical cities, pets and other animals, birds and flowers. With the Department earning revenue from the scheme, various discounts and offers are available to individuals and corporate customers, reported The Hindu.
If you or anyone you know gets this stamp made, do let us know about it.
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