Arohara echoes as Thirupparankundram unites thousands in worship
The rituals began at 5 am, with sacred kalasams taken in procession from the yagasalai to the temple vimanas. By 5.31 am, priests poured sanctified water on nine golden kalasams — seven on the 125-ft Rajagopuram, and one each on the Vallabha Ganapathi and Govardhanambigai Ambal vimanas — marking the formal culmination of the consecration. Theertham was then sprayed on devotees using drones and mounted sprayers.
More than 200 Shivaacharyars conducted the rituals, which commenced on July 10 and continued for five days.
A total of 75 yaga kundams were set up at the Valli Devasena Mandapam, with Vedic chants and Tamil hymns, including Thevaram, Thiruppugazh, and Kandar Anuboothi, recited by over 85 odhuvars, including women, during the concluding rituals on Sunday.
Twenty-seven LED screens were placed around the temple for live telecast. Drinking water booths, ambulances, fire service vehicles, and medical camps were stationed in the vicinity for the devotees.
The Rajagopuram was refurbished at a cost of ₹70 lakh funded by donors, while the total renovation cost was estimated at ₹2.44 crore. As part of the works, seven new golden kalasams were installed on the Rajagopuram and one each on the Ambal and Vinayakar sannidhis. The towers were painted in panchavarnam (five traditional colours) and treated with kalkam, a mixture of 55 herbal ingredients.
On Sunday night, the idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar from the Meenakshi Amman Temple were brought in procession and received at the 16-pillar mandapam in Thirupparankundram early Monday.
Meenakshi Temple was closed for darshan on Monday as the presiding deities were away.
Shops and businesses surrounding the temple marked the occasion with electric decorations. A new LED-lit 'Vel' (spear) was installed atop the gopuram, and laser lighting illuminated the temple towers during the celebrations.
The event was held amid tight security and elaborate arrangements. Around 3,000 police personnel were deployed under the supervision of City Police Commissioner J Loganathan.
Traffic diversions were enforced across Thirupparankundram Taluk to manage the crowd.
Speaking to reporters, HR&CE minister P K Sekar Babu said the consecration was conducted in line with Tamil Agamic traditions and reflected the Dravidian model's commitment to temple revival and heritage preservation. "Under the leadership of chief minister M K Stalin, kumbabishekam has been performed at 3,347 temples across Tamil Nadu so far, including 124 Murugan temples since this government took office," he said.
He urged devotees to be patient and make use of the ongoing 48-day mandala abhishekam period for darshan. "The spiritual merit extends far beyond today's event. We ask devotees to avoid unnecessary rush and plan visits accordingly," he said.
He also emphasized that the event transcended politics and religion, sending a message of unity. "Thirupparankundram is a model of harmony where people of all castes and faiths coexist peacefully," he added.
Commercial taxes minister P Moorthy, Thirupparankundram MLA Rajan Chellappa, state BJP president Nainar Nagenthiran, Madurai collector K J Praveen Kumar, and Madurai Corporation commissioner Chithra Vijayan also participated.
MSID:: 122442068 413 |
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
7 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Kadal Mozhi: The dialect of Chennai's fishermen
What if there were more than just eight directions? Not just North, South, East, West, and their neat combinations that add up to the number eight. What if, for an entire community along our coast, North wasn't even at the top of the compass? What if the very idea of direction was shaped not by colonisers' maps, but by lived experiences, language, and land? For the fishers of Chennai, this isn't a thought experiment. Their wind directions aren't plotted on a grid. They are drawn in winds, tides, and ancestral knowledge. As they push their boats into the sea, something remarkable happens. On land, it's the colloquial Tamil that one would fully comprehend. But once they cross the sea, the dialect changes. While some words may arrive with unfamiliar twists, some other words may seem familiar — like echoes of our own tongue — but slip past meaning. Spoken in the depths of the blue by those with salt in their blood is one such dialect, that neither you nor I hear. Out in the ocean, their dialect is shaped by the sea that they worship as their amma, and the wind they believe to be their guiding ancestors — paatta.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
State wildlife authorities launch app to rescue snakes
Chennai: As part of 'World Snake Day' celebrations, Tamil Nadu Forest Department launched the beta version of "NAAGAM" — a first-of-its-kind official mobile application to streamline snake rescue operations across the state. Forest Secretary Supriya Sahu said the app, developed by Leopard Labs, functions as a direct interface between the public and trained snake rescuers. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust will be its legal advisor. "The app is designed as a powerful regulatory and scientific tool to ensure ethical, documented, and certified rescues of snakes across TN," she said. NAAGAM enables the public to raise snake rescue requests with a simple tap, automatically alerting the nearest certified rescuer. It ensures only trained and certified rescuers respond, minimising the risk of unethical or unsafe handling of snakes that stray into homes. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The app also allows rescuers to record critical rescue data, including snake species, location of rescue, photographs, and release site details. A public awareness programme will be conducted post-rescue. It also collects and organises real-time biodiversity data on snake sightings and rescues, contributing to long-term conservation strategies, Sahu said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The app provides location-specific information on nearby hospitals and primary health centres with antivenom stocks, adding critical value during emergencies. As part of the celebrations, the forest department launched a technical training workshop for snake rescuers, attended by officials from the forest department, herpetologists, and certified rescuers from across the state. The NAAGAM app will soon be available for public use on both iOS and Android platforms, she added. At Chennai Snake Park, as part of the World Snake Day celebrations, a cartoon titled 'Snakes are farmers' friends' in Tamil, English, and Hindi was released.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Murugan temple in Kodungaiyur limits revived, 10 years on
Chennai: The centuries-old Arulmigu Muthukumaraswamy Temple in Poongavanam Nagar, Kodungaiyur, witnessed a kumbabishekam (consecration) ceremony on Tuesday. The event was part of the state govt's efforts to revive core city temples that had not undergone consecration in more than a decade. HR&CE minister P K Sekarbabu oversaw the rituals. Renovation work, including the restoration of the Raja Gopuram, sanctum structures, and mandapams, were completed at a cost of 91.5lakh, funded by temple resources and donors. Since the DMK govt came to power, 3,386 temples, including 131 Murugan temples in places such as Palani, Thiruchendur, Thirupparankundram, and Vadapalani, have been restored. "Under CM Stalin's aegis, a revival of Murugan temples is underway. Kumbhabhishekams were held at Palani after 16 years and at Thiruchendur and Thirupparankundram after more than a decade. The state has invested more than 1,085cr in renovating 884 Murugan temples. The govt also hosted the grand World Tamil Murugan Conference in 2024, drawing more than five lakh attendees. Projects include the construction of towering Murugan statues at Marudhamalai (184ft), Thindal (180ft), and Kumaragiri (114ft)," said Sekarbabu. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Infrastructure improvements such as cable cars, electric lifts, and hill paths to enhance accessibility, along with annadanam and prasadam schemes, have also been introduced. "We also introduced free pilgrimages for senior citizens, student scholarships, and cultural preservation through Thavil-Nadaswaram schools," he added.
