Foreign tourists on Sunday cleaned the Koti Tirtha lake and its surrounding areas in Gokarna town. Most of them were from Russia. 

"We volunteered to do the work as a mark of respect to Lord Shiva the day before Shivaratri," one of the tourists said. But most refused to speak to the media, saying they were just doing their duty as they visit regularly the holy place. 

"Do something to keep your place clean." A Russian tourist, who identified himself as Ramadas and later revealed his name as Surkozy, said he loves India and Gokarna. He comes here every year to get peace. "The Koti Tirtha lake is a sacred water body. I know that one day is not enough to clean it. I am doing my service to Lord Mahabaleshwara (deity of Gokarna)," he said. 

Other foreigners, brooms in hand, cleaned the steps of the lake and collected plastic bottles and bags, and cartons, and deposited them in a bin. Another foreign tourist said he would be happy if devotees who have a dip in the lake on Shivaratri return satisfied that they bathed in clean water. Some other foreigners said they had joined the cleaning work by the local gram panchayat on Saturday A German was upset at the lukewarm response from local representatives, public, officials and temple authorities to their voluntary work. 

"Gokarna is a very holy place where the Atma Linga of Lord Shiva is situated. Coming from thousands of miles away, we are disappointed to see garbage in the town. The temple authorities and the administration should concentrate on hygiene first," said a traveller from Finland.