Officials issue guidelines for ‘Annadanam’

Those offering food on Chitrapournam along girivalam path should get permission

The district administration has slapped stringent restrictions on offering free food (annadhanam) to devotees who would be performing the circumambulation (girivalam) on 14-km path around the bill on May 10 this year.

Hawkers have been asked to get permission. This is likely to cause hardship to them as many of them would be coming from far-off places.

Chitra Pournami is the second most popular annual festival after Karthigai Deepam in Tiruvannamalai in which devotees perform circumambulation of the hill (girivalam) on barefoot.

Although several lakh devotees perform girivalam on the full moon day every month, these two festivals are special. With the hotels unable to cope with the demand, philanthropists arrange for food along the girivalam path free of cost.

District Collector Prashant M.Wadnere has asked those who wish to offer food to apply for permission at the office of the Assistant Director of Rural Development (Panchayats) between May 2 and 8. The potential sponsors need to submit a prescribed form with a copy of proof of address and five copies of their passport size photographs. After getting permission, the sponsors may perform annadhanam at the site allotted and during the time allotted.

They will not be allowed to cook along the girivalam path but only can offer food prepared outside and brought to the place. The food would be inspected and allowed for distribution only if it was found to be of good quality.

Waste disposal

Those who provide food should bring a bin to the place in which people could put the waste.

It was the responsibility of those who provide food to arrange manpower to clean the place after the event.

Those who set up shops without permission would be prosecuted.