Elaborate arrangements have been made for the Chitrapournami celebrations at the Mangaladevi temple on Monday. The temple is opened for the public once a year.
The celebrations at the Kannagi temple, inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve bordering Tamil Nadu, are jointly organised by the district administrations of Theni and Idukki, and the pujas will be held in Malayalam and Tamil.
In deep forest
One has to travel 13 km inside the forest to reach the temple. Jeeps from Kumily will ply to the temple. The pujas will start at 4 a.m., and the pilgrims will be allowed darshan from 6 a.m. with the entry limited till 3 p.m.
Police, forest, and revenue officials of the two districts will monitor the festival. An official release said that three ‘pongalas’ each would be allowed for the two States. A control room has been opened in the temple area. Only jeeps with passes will be allowed entry.
There will be three check-posts on the forest path, and a mobile medical team will be stationed on the temple premises.
The stone temple is believed to be 1,800 years old. A large number of pilgrims from the two States visit the temple on the Chitrapournami day.