RAMANATHAPURAM
Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who was on a one-day visit to Rameswaram on Monday, offered worship at Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, visited the ‘House of Kalam’, the residence of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Arichamuni, the south-eastern tip of Dhanushkodi.
The Governor, accompanied by his wife and family members, arrived by Rameswaram Express from Chennai in the early hours and reached the temple at 5.30 a.m. to a warm and ceremonial reception by the temple authorities. Mr. Purohit was received by Mangayarkarasi, Joint Commissioner of the temple, and witnessed ‘Spatika Linga puja’ for about 15 minutes before leaving in a battery car to take holy bath at Agnitheertham sea in front of the temple. The Governor and his family members later took holy bath in all the 22 ‘theerthams’ inside the temple and offered worship.
Before leaving the temple, the Governor, in his remarks in the visitors’ note, appreciated the temple authorities for maintaining cleanliness. “On the auspicious day, at darshan of Lord Siva and after darshan, I feel a sort of vibration and satisfaction,” the Governor said.
Later, the Governor, accompanied by family members, called on A.P.J.M. Maraikayar, elder brother of Kalam, and exchanged greetings and books of Kalam. The Governor presented Mr. Maraikayar a bouquet and a shawl.
During the interaction with Kalam’s family members, the Governor recalled the former President’s inspiring speech at Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management in Nagpur. The Governor later visited ‘Mission of Life’, a photo gallery, depicting Kalam’s memorabilia.
Later, he visited Arichamunai and Dhanushkodi, the once flourishing town destroyed in the 1964 cyclone.
