Thousands of devotees witness ‘Aadi Thavasu'

A HUGE DRAW: Devotees particiapting in the Aadi Thavasu festival at Gomathi Ambal temple at Sankarankoil on Sunday. Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

Thousands of devotees from various parts of the State converged at Sankarankoil on Sunday to have darshan of Swamy Sankaranarayanar and Sri Gomathi Ambal on the occasion of ‘Aadi Thavasu.'

The celebrations started on August 4 with flag hoisting and the car festival was held on August 23. After the golden car procession in the temple in the morning and special ‘abhishekam,' ‘alangaaram' and ‘deeparadhana' at ‘thavasu mandapam,' ‘Aadi Thavasu' darshan was held between 6.05 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.

Over 1,000 police personnel had been drawn from various parts of Tirunelveli and neighbouring districts to make elaborate security arrangements in and around Sankarankovil.

Special buses were operated from Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti, Tenkasi and Rajapalayam to Sankarankoil and traffic was diverted on some of the streets around the temple.

Temporary bus stands had been established at four points to minimise the direct inflow of devotees and the parking of buses around the temple.

Health camps had been established at several points. The Sankarankovil Municipality, in association with political parties, non-governmental organisations and business establishments, had established several booths to distribute drinking water to visitors.

Additional water tanker lorries were hired to provide drinking water to devotees and organisations, which offered ‘annadhaanam' to the public.