If you have ever used a bathroom in a provincial temple, you may have noticed thatthe “plastic bathroom bowls in temples”used for scooping water often have small holes drilled near the bottom or on the side, prompting curiosity about why these holes exist despite seemingly limiting the bowl's water capacity.
In fact, drilling holes in temple bathroom bowls is not a mandatory rule nor related to any beliefs. It is simply a method chosen by many temples to address practical issues of usage, cleanliness, and communal property care, helping to keep the bathroom orderly.
The most commonly cited reason is to reduce the chance that ill-intentioned individuals take the bowls outside the area or steal them. Because bowls with holes leak water immediately, they are unsuitable for other uses such as watering plants, washing cars, or household tasks, thus discouraging removal.
Temple bathrooms are intended to provide convenience for visitors. The holes allow bowls to scoop water for cleansing as usual but prevent holding water for long periods, thereby discouraging water use for unrelated activities.
Without holes, water can remain inside the bowl for extended times, causing algae buildup, dirt accumulation, or becoming a breeding ground for germs and mosquitoes. Drilled holes let water drain out, drying the bowl faster, reducing odors, and making cleaning easier.
Though it may seem contradictory, preventing water from sitting inside the bowl for long helps reduce stubborn stains and plastic deterioration from prolonged use, keeping the bowl cleaner and lasting longer.
Every item in a temple is communal property intended to serve visitors. Drilling holes in the bowls is another way to remind users that these items are for on-site use only and should not be taken away or misused, promoting responsibility for public assets.
Therefore, if you encounter a bowl with holes in a provincial temple bathroom, there is no need to be surprised. This is a practical approach many temples use to facilitate maintenance, reduce loss, and keep bathrooms clean and ready for use, without any religious or superstitious meaning. It is simply a solution to help prevent equipment loss.