The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Pilgrims throng Palani for temple festival

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Friday, Jan 18, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Pilgrims throng Palani for temple festival

Staff Reporter

With no rope car, more takers for winch service

— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

Focus on vow: Pilgrims on their way to Palani passing through Sanarpatti near Dindigul on Thursday.

PALANI: Arrival of pilgrims to Sri Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple here has been increasing steadily ever since Thai Poosam festival commenced on Wednesday. Carrying aesthetically-decorated ‘kaavadis,’ pilgrims from Theni, Madurai, Tiruchi and Karaikudi districts have started thronging the hill temple.

The police have enhanced security arrangements by deploying additional personnel at winch station, Padha Vinayagar Temple, hill temple, bus stand and on Sannadhi Street. Over 2,500 police personnel have been deployed in the town, according to the police.

“If needed, more personnel will be deployed on January 20, 21 and 22. Vehicular traffic on Oddanchatram-Palani stretch will be diverted through other routes on these days,” police sources added.

The 10-day Thai Poosam festival commenced with flag hoisting ceremony at Sri Periya Nayaki Amman Temple on Wednesday.

‘Kaapu’ (holy thread) was tied to the presiding deity, utsavamurthy, Sri Vinayagar, Dwarapalakas and Parivar idols.

Celestial wedding of Lord Muthukumaraswamy with goddesses Sri Valli and Sri Deivanai will take place on January 21. They would be taken on a procession in a silver car that night.

Holy car procession, the main ritual of the festival, will be taken out at 4.30 p.m. on January 22, and ‘Theppather’ the following day. The festival will conclude on January 25.

Patch works not over

Even as the Department of Highways assured to complete all road patch works within three days for the convenience of pilgrims, work on the main stretch, Dindigul-Palani highway, has not been completed.

The Government had sanctioned funds for expansion of the bus stand. (The expansion work was announced in 2001.) This work is yet to start.

Temporary shelters

The temple administration has erected temporary shelters at prime spots on Oddanchatram-Palani and Udumalpet-Palani highways. Over five lakh pilgrims are expected to arrive at the temple town for Thai Poosam festival this year.

Despite operation of three winch cars, the temple administration is not able to meet the growing demand owing to suspension of the rope car service, which will not be operated for the next four months.

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