About 50 shops in Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple complex have reopened this week. The shops were closed after a fire destroyed much of the eastern wing’s Veeravasantha Rayar Mandapam in February.
After the fire, shopkeepers were immediately asked to vacate the premises by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department and the temple authorities on February 3.
Later Madurai Bench of Madras High Court permitted them to open shops on the Amman Sannithi side till December 31, but on a condition that they have to find alternative sites to set up shops in the interim period.
P. Pandiaraja, a member of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Shopkeepers’ Association, said they were relieved after the court allowed them to reopen their shops since it was their only source of income. “Meenakshi temple has always been a social communion. The traders do not operate solely with a profit motive.
The shops are integral to the temple as they add value to the temple visit. Tourists also buy puja articles, thali threads and kumkum to take back home,” he said.
Temple authorities earlier objected to the presence of shops inside the temple because they did not follow fire safety regulations.
They also said that the shops were established only for profit motive and that sellers often benefited from the huge crowds that thronged the temple.
Mr. Pandiaraja said they were willing to comply with new safety procedures and will insulate their wires, have fire-proof walls and avoid selling items made of plastic.
“We are willing to preserve the heritage of the structure and sell products that reflect the ambience. Our only request is that we must be permitted to continue our business here,” he said.
