Pilgrims visiting Amma Mandapam in Srirangam are experiencing acute shortage of space to perform puja.
The bathing ghat, situated on the northern banks of the Cauvery, is considered a holy spot to perform obsequies to ancestor. It attracts a large number of devotees from different parts of Tamil Nadu and northern States. The bathing ghat, which used to attract crowds on Amavasya (new moon), gets pilgrims on weekdays and weekends too.
The mandapam, which is owned by Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, has facilities to perform puja. While pilgrims offer prayer on the barricaded banks of the Cauvery, purohithars carry out rituals for their clients. According to sources, there are about 100 purohithars, who operate at the mandapam. Their number has seen an increase in recent years due to the sharp rise in devotees.
On Amavasya, sources say, it attracts at least 10,000 people and at least 3,000 to 5,000 pilgrims on weekends. However, the existing facilities are insufficient to cater to their needs. There are purohithars, who do not have space in the sheds, operate on the open platforms. The pilgrims have to wait for their turn to perform puja with the purohithar.
