The grand spectacle of Lord Kallazhagar entering the Vaigai took place amidst heightened security, in the presence of over 6,000 police personnel.
“While the devotees could catch a glimpse of the Lord up close when he was brought near the riverbed last year, there were many police personnel surrounding the procession this time and were present even after the Lord’s entry was enacted,” said J. Manikandan, a devotee from Virudhunagar.
The road leading to the ramp which Lord Azhagar took to get into the riverbed, which is usually packed with devotees, was cordoned off by the police this time.
While the dry riverbed last year was packed with devotees, the number of people who were allowed to occupy a strip of land on the riverbed to witness the event was significantly small this year.
Mild force
In a few instances, devotees tried to break the barricades and get closer to the mandapam on the riverbed, and the police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to control the crowd at one point.
Albert Victor bridge, which was initially cordoned off for the public and only used by VIPs to witness the event, was opened for the public after Azhagar’s entry into the river and devotees rushed to catch a glimpse of the deity’s procession around the mandapam on the riverbed. The police personnel on duty said that they had imposed restrictions to prevent untoward incidents and to ensure safety of the people inside the river, which was in full flow.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel who were also present in large numbers with safety equipment helped the people who got into the river reach the banks.
