The district administration has stipulated regulations to be strictly followed by the devotees visiting Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple near Papanasam dam in Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve for the ‘Aadi Amaavaasai’ celebrations.According to District Collector Anand Mohan, no vehicle - neither government buses nor private vehicles - will be allowed beyond the Forest Department’s check-post in Papanasam on August 7 and 8 as arrangements for the festival will be made in and around the temple on these days. Devotees coming to the temple for ‘Aadi Amaavaasai’ celebrations will be allowed to take their belongings in their vehicles to the temple between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. on August 9. After unloading the devotees’ belongings at the temple, the vehicles should return to the base immediately.Government buses will be operated from the temporary bus stand at Agasthiyarpatti for devotees between August 10 and 12 as private vehicles will not be allowed during the celebration on these days. Private vehicles will be allowed beyond the check-post only on August 14 between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. to bring the belongings of the devotees back to the base from Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple.Hence, private vehicles should get the pass at Papanasa Swami Temple parking area before proceeding to Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple. Devotees should take the government buses from the temple to reach the temporary bus-stand at Agasthiyarpatti as they will not be allowed to travel in the private vehicles carrying the belongings.Public will not be allowed beyond the check-post on August 15 and 16 as cleaning of Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple premises and the adjoining forest area will be done during these days.The devotees, who will be completely frisked at the check-post should not bring liquor, use-and-throw plastic products, soaps, shampoo, kerosene, petrol and other easily combustible products, banned tobacco products etc. Anyone carrying these banned products will be immediately booked and the vehicles carrying these products will also be seized.Since the devotees come to the temple only to offer prayers, they will not be allowed to enter the adjoining forest areas and should not take bath in the deeper parts of the river. Devotees should use only 250-odd toilets to be created on the temple premises and open defecation should be strictly avoided. Devotees can stay in the tents to be pitched by the temple administration as no private agency or individuals have not been given permission for erecting tents.Since the southwest monsoon has belied this year and hence the vegetation around the temple and other areas of KMTR is completely dry now, the devotees should not light firewood in any place for cooking food. Moreover, the devotees will not be allowed to move into the forest and the violators will be booked, Mr. Anand Mohan said. Published - July 31, 2026 06:40 pm IST