Armed security for temple festival

The ‘vaikasi brahmotsavam’ (annual festival) of Sri Devarajaswamy temple, Little Kancheepuram, popularly known as Kanchi Varadhar temple, is being celebrated with armed police protection.

The devotees, local and as well as those from the neighbouring districts and States, who have taken part in the famous “Garuda Sevai” here on Tuesday were startled to notice armed personnel accompanying the Lord during the procession, which weaved its way through major thoroughfares in the town.

Further, most of the devotees who used to visit Kancheepuram to witness the “sathumurai” in front of the Alwar Sannadhis inside the temple every year had a tough time, with the policemen who refused to let them in the temple at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday citing security reasons, though the devotees possessed the passes issued by the temple administration.

In addition to the armed guards, nearly 500 policemen were deployed in the ‘bandobust’ duty in the town on Tuesday, police sources said.

The reason, they said, the Kancheepuram Police District administration did not want to take any chances in view of the current law and order situation prevailing in the State by pointing out the Superintendent of Police, Santosh Hadimoni himself heading the police team at Madurantakam a few days ago when the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, M.K.Stalin took part in an agitation.

The “Garuda Sevai” procession, which commenced from the temple at around 5 a.m., returned to the temple well past noon. A large number of devotees witnessed the procession and offered their prayers en-route as usual.