Latest news with #ChithraPournami
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
When the full moon lit the girivalam path at Thirukazhukundram
The four hills of Thirukazhukundram, said to represent the four Vedas, were resounding with the chants of 'Namasivaya Vazhga' this month. The annual 10-day Chithirai Thiruvizha of the Vedagireeswarar Temple attracted tens of thousands of devotees from nearby villages. On Chithra Pournami, the full moon day, thousands of people took the girivalam, the circumambulation of the hills through the 4-km route. 'Though the full moon lit the path beautifully, we had arranged additional lighting. Anticipating the crowds, we had taken up the usual preparations for the festival since the girivalam is done at night. After several years, we got a new chariot for Chandikeswarar. It was gutted in 1986. A local resident, Anbu Chezhiyan, gave the money for the new one. Five chariots carrying the idols of Sri Ganesha, Murugan, Thripurasundari Amman, Bhaktavatsaleswarar, and Chandikeswarar were brought out on the seventh day,' says S. Puviarasan, the executive officer of the temple. K. Sivaraman, a devotee, says he has been attending the monthly girivalam at the temple since 2004. 'The crowds are very manageable since most of them are the local people. The police also ensure our safety. Arrangements, including water supply and prasadam distribution, are made by the temple authorities,' he says. Famous for vultures The hilltop temple of Vedagireeswarar can be accessed by climbing 565 steps. At the bottom, there is a temple for Bhaktavatsaleswarar and Thripurasundari Amman. This temple town is famous for the vultures that used to visit it daily. Legend has it that two rishis wanted to attain moksha and prayed to the Lord, who told them to lead lives of householders and continue their prayers. However, as they refused to do so, they were cursed to become vultures and visit Rameshwaram, Kasi, and Thirukazhukundram daily for four yugas. The vultures no longer visit Thirukazhukundram. The reason is not known. In the western suburbs, Thirumullaivoyal's Kodi Idai Nayaki sametha Maasilamaneeswarar Temple celebrated the Chitirai Sadhayam. On the day when the Sadhayam star is on the ascent, the sandalwood paste applied on the Lingam is removed and people can have darshan of the plain idol. Temple executive officer Prabhakar says the sandalwood paste is removed and distributed to devotees. 'Freshly ground sandalwood paste will be applied throughout the year. The idol has a cut like the one inflicted by a sword and that can be seen during the Sadhayam day,' he said. Unique characteristics According to temple expert R. Raghunathan, the temple, which is more than a thousand years old, has several unique characteristics, including an idol of Nandi that is turned away from the Shiva Lingam; two pillars made of Calotropis gigantea or erukkam. 'It is a paadal petra sthalam, meaning it has the honour of being sung by one of the four Tamil Saints. Sundarar has sung about it in a song — Paasu Padha Param Chudare. The temple's sthala vruksham, or the temple tree, is the Mullai creeper or the Arabian jasmine,' he says.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- The Hindu
TNSTC Kumbakonam to run special buses for ‘Chithra Pournami'
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Kumbakonam Division, will be operating special buses to Thiruvannamalai from May 10 to 13 on the occasion of 'Chithra Pournami' which falls on May 12. According to a TNSTC official release, these services will be operated from the important towns in the TNSTC, Kumbakonam Division's domain. It had been proposed to operate 607 services – 190 services between Thiruvannamalai and Tiruchi/Thuraiyur/Perambalur, 145 between Kumbakonam and Thiruvannamalai, 65 from Mayiladuthurai, 58 from Ariyalur/Jayamkondam, 51 from Pudukottai, 50 from Nagapattinam, and 48 connecting Karaikudi with Thiruvannamalai would be operated from Saturday to Tuesday. These services will reach the temporary bus stand facility set up by the Thiruvannamalai district administration at the open ground in front of the Corporation Boys Higher Secondary School, Thirukovilur Road, Thiruvannamalai.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- The Hindu
Kumki Chinnathambi steps in for Narasimhan at Poondi ahead of Chitra Pournami
The Forest Department has brought kumki Chinnathambi from Kozhikamuthi elephant camp of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) to Vellingiri Andavar temple at Poondi in Coimbatore district to guard people from wild elephants that often enter the temple premises. The department has already stationed another kumki Narasimhan, also from Kozhikamuthi camp, at Poondi for about a week. Chinnathambi was brought on Wednesday night as an additional layer of security, anticipating heavy inflow of people for Chithra Pournami. According to the department, a large number of people are expected to visit the temple at Poondi in the downhill and trek Vellingiri hills for Chithra Pournami. As the temple is situated in the midst of reserve forest areas of the Boluvampatti forest range, movement of wild elephants could be expected anytime. Narasimhan was brought to Poondi last week for the safety of devotees, following recurring incidents of a tusker entering the temple premises in search of food. 'Chinnathambi was brought to Poondi as an additional safety measure. Presence of kumkis will deter wild elephants from approaching the area. The kumkis can also be used to drive out wild elephants, if any, enter the temple compound,' said Boluvampatti forest range officer T. Suseendranath.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Run special trains between Tiruchi and Tiruvannamalai for Chithra Pournami, Durai Vaiko urges railways
Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko has urged the Southern Railway to run special trains between Tiruchi and Tiruvannamalai or Vellore via Srirangam, Ariyalur, Vriddhachalam, and Villupuram in connection with the 'Chithra Pournami' festival on May 12. In a representation to the Southern Railway General Manager, Mr. Durai Vaiko said thousands of devotees from Tiruchi and nearby areas travelled to Tiruvannamalai and Vellore to attend this important religious festival. Running special trains will be very useful for the pilgrims during this time, he said and requested the Southern Railway General Manager to consider the demand and take action.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dispute over right to hoist flag leads to suspension of ceremony at Kannagi Temple
Timely intervention by Forest department officials and the presence of police and revenue authorities ensured that there was no law and order issue at the holy flag hoisting ceremony at Mangaladevi Kannagi Temple at Paliyankudi in the border of Idukki district in Kerala and Theni district, on Tuesday. Every year, to celebrate Chithra Pournami in the Tamil month of Chithirai at the temple, thousands of devotees from far and near trek to the shrine inside the forest. As the temple does not come under Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, a private trust and a few other organisations conduct the events and serve annadhanam during the festival. To mark the beginning of the festival, they had assembled at at Vinetripaari on the foothills of the Kannagi temple. But trouble started as another group claimed right to hoist the flag. As the foothills were under the Forest department jurisdiction, they alerted the police and revenue authorities. Uthamapalayam Deputy Superintendent of Police Venkatesan and Tahsildar Kannan, along with Forest officials led by Muralidharan from Gudalur range held talks with the two groups. As there seemed to be no consensus, they announced the suspension of the flag-hoisting ceremony and ordered closure of the gates leading to the forest path. In normal times, devotees trek through the forest to the shrine and drinking water and food are provided to them by the organisers. Later, the trustees hoisted the holy flag at their trust office in Cumbum and announced that the devotees can tie the 'kaapu' to begin the fast. A senior revenue official said that the district administration would conduct a peace talk soon and ensure that the festival went on smoothly. Last year, when there were similar issues, the district administration took over the conduct of the festival and ensured that there was no law and order problem, the official added.
