The devotees of Ugra Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal Temple in Thammampatti town near here have set a worthy example for communal harmony and national integration by extending invitation to the members of the Muslim community in connection with the forthcoming Chithirai car festival.
The Chithirai car festival in this famous temple, attached to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department, is scheduled to be held for May 3 and May 4.
The car festival is being conducted after a gap of seven years.
Special poojas
The ‘vellottam’ of the temple car was conducted on April 25 and a large number of local devotees participated in the special poojas and other rituals conducted in this connection on the temple premises.
Special poojas and swami tiruveedhi ula, music concerts are being held for the past one week in the temple as part of the car festival.
Invitation
The members of the organising committee decided to invite the members of the Muslim community for the car festival in an effort to strengthen the bond prevailing between both the communities for centuries together.
Jamath members
As such, they visited the big mosque on Thammampatti bazar street on Tuesday and extended formal invitation to the members of the jamath to participate in the temple festival.
The jamath leaders, who accepted the invitation, promised to participate in the festival, said a senior member of the organising committee.
Commendable
A cross-section of people of Salem district commended the gesture.
They said that such initiative would go a long way in promoting communal harmony in the whole State.
