Latest news with #Chithraifestival
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Time of India
Chithrai fest: Traffic curbs, parking zones announced
1 2 Madurai: Ahead of the Kallazhagar's entry into the Vaigai river as part of the Chithrai festival on Monday, Madurai city police have announced an elaborate traffic and parking regulation plan to ensure a smooth and safe experience for devotees. According to a police statement, the Kallazhagar's descent into the Vaigai is scheduled between 5.45am and 6.05am on Monday. In view of a massive turnout of devotees, key stretches, including the route to Ramarayar Mandapam via the AV bridge and the Yanaikkal new bridge, will be closed to all vehicular traffic in the early hours of will be strictly restricted along both the southern and northern banks of the Vaigai near Obula Padithurai. Vehicles from the southern parts will not be allowed to cross into the northern side via the AV bridge or Sellur new owners with authorised parking passes have been directed to park in designated zones. Green pass holders can access parking near the southern end of the AV bridge, while blue pass holders must park near Anna bus stand and the Periyar buses and heavy vehicles heading towards Keelavasal or Simmakkal via Alagarkoil Road and Natham Road will be diverted through Race Course Road, the Pandiyan hotel junction, and KK Nagar. Vehicles from Periyar bus stand heading to Natham Road or Melur Road must also take alternative routes via Mahal Road and the Aravind Eye Hospital can use specially earmarked parking grounds such as Gokhale Road, YMCA, ITI, and several school grounds across the city. Those viewing the river entry can park near Gandhi Museum, the Race Course ground, and the PWD parking is permitted only on one side of certain streets, including Keelamasi and Vadakku Masi. Unauthorized vehicles will not be allowed into restricted zones such as the Amsavalli-Anna statue stretch and the Goripalayam area.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- The Hindu
Focus on halting of Lord Kallazhagar at every mandagapadi before his entry into Vaigai
Madurai City Police, in association with the district administration, have almost completed the ground work for the grand entry of Lord Kallazhagar into Vaigai river on Monday morning. Right from getting the dug-up road levelled and scaffolding of underconstruction bridges covered and putting barricades on roads and at the riverbed with lighting facilities, the works are almost complete. As part of crime prevention, the police have installed CCTV cameras with AI facility and planned to give safety pins to women for fastening their gold ornaments. They have also prepared tags for children with their names and contact details of parents for easy identification in crowd. Flex boards of QR codes to reach out to the police during emergencies have been put up at vantage points. The focus of the police has now turned towards crowd management on Lord Kallazhagar reaching Prasanna Venkatachalapthy Temple at Tallakulam on Sunday night till the early morning of Monday when He enters the Vaigai. 'The stretch of Alagarkoil Road between Tallakulam temple and the river would easily witness at least 70,000 people. Though they would have had the darshan of Lord Kallazhagar during Ethir Sevai, most of the devotees show keen interest in having another glimpse of the deity mounted on the golden horse palanquin,' said a senior police officer. With the bitter experience of a stampede-like situation claiming four lives at Goripalayam during the 2022 Chithrai festival, the City Police are doubly alert to ensure smooth procession this year. 'The inordinate delay in taking Lord Kallazhagar out of Tallakulam temple led to skipping of most of the 50-odd mandagapadies between Tallakulam and the Vaigai river,' another police officer recalled. The sea of devotees was waiting to have a darshan of the deity leisurely as the procession would stop for at around five minutes at each mandagapadi. However, they were caught unawares with the unannounced skipping of halts at most of the mandagapadies. 'This resulted in the entire crowd from near Tamukkam ground to rush behind the deity towards Goripalayam junction leading to an avoidable commotion,' he added. The already tired policemen could not control the frenzied crowd. 'This time, we have planned to keep up with the timings so that there was adequate time for the procession to halt at every mandagapadi. We are working closely with HR&CE officials as it would take at least four hours for the procession to cross this stretch,' he added.
