VIRUDHUNAGAR
The new car of Sri Chokkanathaswamy Temple came along the four car streets with great difficulty due to encroachments and organisers’ failure to remove protruding rods and cables on the streets, on Tuesday.
The car festival was being celebrated by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department after several years as the new car could be made only now at a cost of ₹27 lakh, with public contribution of ₹18 lakh.
After the celestial wedding of Lord Chokkanathaswamy with Goddess Meenakshi was held on Monday, the car festival was held on Tuesday. Though the officials had conducted a trial run a couple of weeks back, the width of the car grew with additional decorations on Tuesday.
An official said that the car that started at 8 a.m. came back to its station only at 6 p.m.
Porticos of a couple of buildings that protruded into the street held up the car for long hours, he added. Only after the structures were removed could the car be moved. Similarly, some rods and cables that were not removed before hand also obstructed the movement of the temple car. The ordeal, however, did not dampen the spirit of the devotees who had gathered to pull the car.
