Madurai Collector Nishanth Krishna and Virudhunagar Collector N. O. Sukhaputra inspecting at Thaanipaarai for Adi Ammavasai festival at the famous Sri Sundaramahalinga Swamy Temple on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ahead of the upcoming Adi-Ammavasai festival to be held on August 12 at the famous Sri Sundaramahalinga Swamy Temple, the District Collectors of Madurai and Virudhunagar inspected the sites at Thaanipaarai on Saturday.The festival, which attracts a large number of devotees from far and wide, is situated inside the forest area and the visitors have to trek for about five kilometres to reach the shrine. In a bid to ensure public safety, the Tamil Nadu government had proposed the administration to make fool proof arrangements.As a sequel, the Collectors, accompanied by officials from multiple departments discussed the plans. From crowd control measures to screening the visitors and fixing the timings and public transport arrangements, the administration held detailed discussions.It has been proposed to permit devotees to the shrine only for four days - ie, from August 10 to 13. The devotees would be allowed entry from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Elders, pregnant women, patients and people arriving with children would be advised to avoid the visit.The meeting proposed to ban plastic bags, banned products, liquor and inflammable goods. Check posts would be installed at the foothills to screen the public. It has also been proposed to intensify surveillance inside the forests during the festival days to prevent Grizzled squirrels.The officials said that they have planned to allow the devotees in one-way (ie, they can go via Vellaipaarai to reach the shrine) and can return to the foothills through a new way. This arrangement would prevent over crowding.Thirty medical teams would be stationed at locations such as Konapaarai, Sangilipaarai, Kaathadimedu with first aid kit and Oxygen for persons who may require while trekking. For the benefit of the visitors, huge water tanks would be positioned at 10 locations with 3000 litres capacity. Mobile toilets would also be installed at Thaanpaarai and Watrap respectively.The officials proposed to close down TASMAC outlets in the nearby vicinity to ensure there was no issue on maintenance of law and order.Special bus services would be operated to the temple from Madurai, Rajapalayam, Srivilliputtur, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Sattur, Aruppukottai and Thirumangalam to Thaanipaarai. Night service would not be available to the temple from these places.However, arrangements would be made for the devotees coming down from the hills to return to their destinations. Madurai DRO K Anbazhagan, Sivakasi Sub-Collector Mohamed Irfan, Madurai ADSP Ashwini, Srivilliputtur Megamalai Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Ravi Meena and other officials were present at the meeting.EOM Published - July 25, 2026 09:08 pm IST
