Lord Kallazhagar enters Madurai amid grand Ethir Sevai ritual
Madurai
: Amid chants of "Govinda," beating drums, and devotional fervour,
Lord Kallazhagar
entered Madurai on Sunday morning in a golden palanquin as part of the
Ethir Sevai
ceremony—one of the key events of the annual
Chithirai festival
.The deity, adorned in regal attire, was brought from Alagarkoil to Kondappanayakar Mandapam.
Devotees lined the Alagarkovil Main Road, offering deeparadhana with heated jaggery and puffed rice in bronze vessels, which were later distributed among the crowd.
A special puja was held near the Karuppasamy temple before the deity proceeded into the city.The highlight of the celebrations—the symbolic entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai River—is scheduled for Monday between 5.45 am and 6.05 am near the AV Bridge in Alwarpuram. En route from Alagar Kovil to the riverbank, the deity will be displayed at 494 mandapams across various locations, including Poigai Karai Patti, Kallanthiri, Appan Thiruppathi, Sundararajan Patti, and Kadachanenthal.To manage the influx of devotees, the Madurai Corporation has stepped up civic arrangements. Temporary water tanks have been installed at 52 locations, with sanitation boosted by over 430 workers, supported by additional vehicles. Waste generation during the festival is expected to rise by 40–50 metric tonnes.Public health measures include mosquito and fly control, with 60 power sprayers, 30 hand fogging machines, and nine vehicle-mounted fogging units in action. The corporation has also set up 34 medical camps and deployed 16 ambulances.The fire department has stationed 200 personnel, including 50 in Alwarpuram, and kept four boats on standby to ensure safety at the riverbed. District collector M S Sangeetha inspected the preparations on Sunday evening.MSID:: 121080587 413 |
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Mother's Day wishes
,
messages
, and
quotes
!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
‘Parents Need Support, Not Money And Gifts': Banker's Advice To NRIs
Last Updated: A banker and author living in Singapore recently asked NRIs to find someone to take care of their ageing parents if they live alone. Many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) live abroad while their parents stay alone in India. They work hard to give their children a good life in a new country but leave their elderly parents without much help. A banker and author living in Singapore recently spoke about this problem. He asked NRIs to find someone to take care of their parents if they live alone. He also shared that it's important to visit parents at least once every two years. According to the author, parents over 75 years old start facing many health problems and those above 80 may need full support for daily tasks. Taking to X (Formerly Twitter), the banker wrote, 'Stop at some logical point and get back here to India. If not, arrange a caretaker for your parents who live alone in India. In case they don't agree, accommodate them in an elder care facility. Visit them atleast once in two years. When your parents turn 75 they begin to deteriorate. 80+ aged parents are so frail that they can't do anything on their own. I interact with many such NRI parents daily and am writing from what I see." 'There is enough material for three full-fledged novels. You may be arranging Periyava Mandalis or Brahmotsavams in the USA, but the real gods that brought you to this world are languishing. Your dollars are less worthy than the adult diapers that your parents struggle to wear by themselves.," he added. A note to NRIs, esp at some logical point and get back here to not, arrange a caretaker for your parents who live alone in India. In case they don't agree, accommodate them in an elder care facility. Visit them atleast once in two years. When your…— Amaruvi Devanathan (@amaruvi) June 8, 2025 '30 years of experience. Every attempt to arrange a caretaker was successfully sabotaged by my parents. Tried to live in, live out, cook, informal. They all quit. Past hires don't even talk to me anymore. Left with the maid, part-time driver, on-demand nurse and WFR plan is always active. A care home can never match the lifestyle, social circle and freedom they enjoy now," a comment read. An individual stated, 'Thanks, but my parents are happier with their domestic help/drivers and the business they do even in their 70s. Different families, different circumstances. Hope the parents who miss their grandkids get to see them soon." One more added, 'I have known some NRIs who left in the '70s or '80s and raised their children in the West and now their children live separately. They desperately look for relatives who can come and stay with them, have a daily wage job and help them regularly." In a past interview with the Times of India, Dr Ranjive Mahajan, a senior psychiatrist at DMCH, spoke about PICA, which stands for Parents in India, Children Abroad. He said this is a problem seen mostly in NRI families. When children move abroad, their parents who stay behind often feel lonely, sad and unwanted. Earlier, sending children overseas was more common in villages, but now it happens in cities too. Mahajan added that sometimes, parents who were taken abroad by their children come back to India after they're used only to look after grandchildren.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
When is Father's Day 2025? Know date, history, significance, celebration and more to mark the special day
Father's Day 2025: Like mothers, our fathers also play an important role in our lives. They shape our future by inculcating the right values and helping us develop a healthy and positive lifestyle. Father's Day is celebrated annually across the globe to honour our dads and appreciate their presence in our lives. If you are planning to make Father's Day memorable for your dad, here's everything you need to know about this special day. Learn more about our festivals here. Father's Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of June. This year, it falls on June 15. While many countries, including India, celebrate the festival on the third Sunday of June, a few other countries like Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain have already observed Father's Day on March 19. It is believed that Father's Day originated after a heartfelt initiative started by Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. A 1909 Mother's Day lecture caught Dodd's attention and inspired her to celebrate the fathers, too. She decided to start marking Father's Day, inspired by her father's role in raising her and her siblings as a single parent. However, it took some time for the holiday to be celebrated widely. In 1972, Father's Day finally gained official recognition in the United Nations. The festival holds significance because it honours the role a father or father figure plays in their child's life. A dad teaches his kids values that shape their future, his actions inspire their integrity, his patience builds their character, and he is one of their first confidantes. Therefore, Father's Day reminds us to always cherish our fathers. Father's Day is celebrated with fervour every year. You can mark the occasion by spending quality time with him. You can also prepare unique gifts for him, like having a movie night, gifting him books, or doing acts of service like checking off items from his to-do list, and more. If you care about his health, you can also buy a gym membership for him to improve his health or promise to go to the gym with him at least twice a week.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Zodiac signs that are hard to convince
Some zodiac signs are naturally skeptical, stubborn, or fiercely independent. These individuals tend to think deeply before agreeing with someone else's point of view. Whether it's due to strong beliefs, a logical mindset, or a need for control, the following zodiac signs are often the hardest to convince: Taurus Taurus is known for being incredibly stubborn. Once they've made up their mind, it's very hard to change it. They trust their own experiences and dislike sudden changes, making them resistant to persuasion—even if the argument is strong. Patience and logic are key when trying to sway a Taurus. Scorpio Scorpios are deeply intuitive and protective of their beliefs. They don't trust easily and often question the motives behind what they're being told. Scorpios need time, evidence, and emotional depth before they consider changing their viewpoint. They're not easily influenced by surface-level arguments. Capricorn Capricorns are practical and cautious. They prefer facts, long-term thinking, and proven methods. It's hard to convince a Capricorn without solid reasoning, logic, and a clear benefit. They are usually firm in their decisions and don't let emotions cloud their judgment. Aquarius Aquarius is independent and often ahead of the crowd in their thinking. They form strong opinions based on personal research and values, not on what others think. Trying to convince an Aquarius using conventional arguments may backfire—they like to challenge norms and rarely follow the herd. Leo Leos can be difficult to convince because they have strong pride and confidence in their beliefs. If someone challenges their views too directly, they may resist out of ego or loyalty to their own opinion. Leos are more likely to be persuaded when approached with respect and admiration. These zodiac signs may not be easily swayed, but they often hold thoughtful, grounded opinions. Convincing them requires patience, respect, and well-prepared reasoning—surface-level charm won't work with these strong-willed signs. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
