All arrangements are being made for smooth conduct of the annual Kanduri festival at Nagore Dargah. The festival attracts thousands of devotees from various parts of the country and also from countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Middle East.
On Wednesday, the municipal administration started removing encroachments on 15 streets at Nagore covering the four km route along which ‘santhanakoodu’ procession would take place. The eviction would continue for another four days
N. Chandrasekaran, municipal commissioner (in-charge), said the municipality had constructed six toilets and three more would be constructed. It would set up 15 temporary tanks for supplying potable water to devotees and would ensure burning of all street lights and efforts would be made to maintain six roads leading to dargah from the NH 64 in the best possible way.
S.A.K. Sheik Hasan Sahib, managing trustee, Nagore Dargah, said the district administration should complete the underground drainage work and repair all roads on a war-footing before the commencement of the festival. He urged Southern Railway to operate more trains and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to operate additional buses to Nagore from various destinations.
Hindus too will take a holy dip in the dargah pond, which is believed to have curative properties as the dargah stands as a symbol of communal harmony, says S. Syed Mohammed Kaji Hussain Sahib, one among the hereditary trustee.
Saint Hazrath Syed Shahul Hameed, believed to be the 23rd descendant of Prophet Muhammad (Sal), was born in Manickapur near Allahabad. When he came to Thanjavur on a pilgrimage, he cured illness of the then king of Thanjavur Achuthappa Naicken (16th century). The king gifted lands in Nagore to the saint. The death anniversary of this saint is celebrated as Kanduri festival for 14 days which begins on March 21 with the hoisting of holy flag at dargah.
