As lakhs of devotees are expected to witness ‘Soorasamharam,’ the highlight of the annual Kanda Sashti festival at Subramania Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur on Tuesday, extensive arrangements have been made by the district administration.
People from various parts of the country and abroad have converged at the temple for Kanda Sashti festival, which started on November 8 with ‘yagasala’ puja. A local holiday for Thoothukudi district has been announced for Tuesday.
Since the beginning of the festival, the sanctum sanctorum was opened at 3 a.m. and special pujas were performed to the presiding deity.
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On Tuesday, the sanctum sanctorum would be opened at 1 a.m. and vishwaroopa deeparathanai will be held at 1.30 a.m. Yagasala puja will start around 6 a.m..
Soorasamharam, the annihilation of Soorapadman by Jayanthinathar, will be enacted at 4.30 p.m.. On Wednesday night, celestial wedding of Lord Murugan and Deivayanai will take place.
A large number of devotees on Sashti fasting have stayed at Tiruchendur, while many others stayed at home and continued fasting.
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Around 3,200 policemen have been deployed for security. Surveillance towers have been set up at various places, including the beach. Large LED screens have been set up at 10 important locations, where the large congregation of devotees may witness Soorasamharam.
A total of 250 special buses would be operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to Tiruchendur from various places, including Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil and Madurai, said Collector Sandeep Nanduri. “Hundred temporary toilets and eight shelters for devotees have been installed,” he added.
Parking facilities for 2,500 light vehicles have been made at JJ Nagar near Veerapandianpattinam, and about 1,000 heavy vehicles near the ITI premises for vehicles coming from Thoothukudi.
Those using the Tirunelveli route can park their vehicles near Kumarapuram Esakkiyamman Temple on Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur Road. Around 2,000 vehicles can be parked at this place. Another 1,000 vehicles can be parked opposite Govindammal Aditanar College for Women. Similar facilities have been made at a traders association site and Anbu Nagar.
Those using the Kanniyakumari-Uvari route can park their vehicles at Velavan Nagar, where necessary arrangements have been made for parking of 700 vehicles on either side of the road. Devotees coming via Sattankulam and Valliyoor can park vehicles at a makeshift parking lot near an FCI facility on Paramankurichi road.
Facilities, such as drinking water, ambulance and fire and rescue services, have also been arranged.