Latest news with #Chitiraifestival
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Lack of quorum puts Mayor in a spot at Corporation Council meeting; AIADMK objects to passing of resolutions
In a major embarrassment to Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth, the absence of a majority of her party councillors, including four of the five zone chairpersons, forced her to seek support from the miniscule members present to help pass the resolutions tabled at the monthly council meeting on Friday. The resolutions, according to the officials, were 'very important' and had to get the stamp of approval from the council which alone would get sanction of funds for laying roads in the city. The meeting, which started at 10.30 a.m., had less than 25% of the members out of the 100 wards. Normally, the Mayor, after her customary address, would announce the resolutions as unanimously passed following which the five zone chairpersons (all from the DMK) air their grievances, then the AIADMK leader would speak and the others would take turns to express their views. However, when the Mayor took up the resolutions, AIADMK councillor and leader Solai Raja opposed it stating that it would not be proper to pass the resolution when there was lack of quorum in the House. When the Mayor insisted on taking it up stating it could not be postponed, CPI (M) councillor too supported the AIADMK's view and expressed his concern. At this juncture, the Mayor had to concede the AIADMK's demand and allowed the meeting to continue with the hope that her party councillors would turn up. DMK zone chairperson Pandiselvi thanked the civic administration for 'excellent' conduct of the Chitirai festival and the celebrations of Lord Kallazhagar's entry into the Vaigai river. Mr. Raja said that the Corporation should consider establishing a kabaddi ground in a vacant land measuring about 75 cents in Sellur. He said that in at least 40 ward offices, there were no proper toilets forcing women workers to use restrooms somewhere away. S.S. Bose (Congress), representing Ward No. 73, thanked Minister P. Moorthy for having taken up very many development works in Madurai West Assembly constituency. T. Kumaravel (CPI-M) of Ward 23 said the recently laid demand stern action and blacklisting of the contractor who laid the road in Pykara. Pointing out to Mr. Bose's statement, Mr. Kumaravel said there was an impression that work was happening only in select wards/zones in the city and appealed to the Mayor to earmark funds for all wards as development should not be lopsided. S. Baskaran (MDMK) of Ward 52 said: 'After removing the dumper bins in West Masi Street, the conservancy workers should have been instructed to collect the garbage from residents. In the absence of bins, how are the residents supposed to dispose garbage,' he asked. If the residents left the garbage on the road, they had to face the wrath of shopkeepers. To this, Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan said that a solution would be found to the problem soon. Question Hour Normally, the question hour would take around 120 minutes or even more. However, due to the presence of less than one-third of the councillors, the meeting got over in less than 70 minutes. The Mayor, at the fag end of the meeting, announced that the resolutions had been passed unanimously after a few more councillors turned up in the House.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Chithirai festival held at Paramakudi Sundararaja Perumal Temple
The Chitirai festival at Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Paramakudi was celebrated with pomp and gaiety on Monday. The festival, which commenced with tying of 'kappu' at the temple on May 7, witnessed the presiding deity entering the Vaigai at 3.15 a.m. on 'pushpa pallakku' (flower mount). Amid chanting of Vedic hymns and chanting of 'Govinda, Govinda' by hundreds of devotees who came from Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts, the event took place. At around 10.15 a.m., special pujas and aradhanas were performed at Tallakulam mandagapadi in Melachathiram, following which the deity was taken on a 'kuthirai vahanam' (horse mount). Earlier, on Sunday night, the deity was taken on a procession to Vandiyur Kakkathoppu Mandapam where the deity was adorned with a special 'santhana kappu' alangaram.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Garland from Andal Temple being taken to Madurai for Lord Kallazhagar
Marking the Chitirai festival in Madurai, a huge garland, two toy parrots and other silk 'vasthrams' were being taken from the famous Andal Temple here to be adorned on Lord Kallazhagar, when He enters the Vaigai river on Monday. Amidst special pujas and aradhanas performed by a group of archakars at the shrine here on Saturday, the garland was carried by the temple authorities to Madurai. The HR&CE officials led by Sakkarai Ammal, Avudaiammal and others said that it has been the tradition from time immemorial to send the 'gift' from Goddess Andal to Lord Kallazhagar, which would be adorned on the deity on the occasion.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Discharge from Vaigai dam stepped up; 1000 cusecs released for Chitirai festival
Ahead of Lord Kallazhagar's entry in Vaigai river on May 12 (Sunday), about 1,000 cusecs of water was discharged from Vaigai dam on Thursday. The officials from the Water Resources Department have cautioned the people not to venture into the river for bathing purpose as the discharge would increase due to the release of water. To facilitate the presiding deity - Lord Kallazhagar's entry, the officials released the water and the discharge would be gradually reduced, they said. The officials said that they have released 1072 cusecs of water in the Vaigai river and 72 cusecs would be used for drinking water purposes. Due to severe heat, the water was released at 6 p.m. on Thursday and it would reach Madurai city in a day or two coinciding with Lord Kallazhagar's entry, which is the highlight of the Chitirai festival.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
AIADMK, CPI (M) oppose move to hike advance payments for water tax and UGD at council meeting in Madurai Corporation
Expressing their displeasure, AIADMK and CPI (M) councillors urged the Madurai Corporation to withdraw the resolution to hike advance payment for water tax and under ground drainage (UGD) here on Thursday. As the resolution was read at the council meeting that was chaired by Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth in the presence of Deputy Mayor T. Nagarajan and Commissioner Chitra Vijayan at Anna Maaligai, the Councillors belonging to both the parties stood up and registered their protest. The people were already burdened due to hike in prices of many services including essential services. The Corporation should not burden the common man, said Vijaya Councillor CPI (M). The AIADMK Councillor and leader in the Council Solai Raja said that the Corporation should lay the roads swiftly as many stretches were in a bad shape. The road cutting charges for laying underground cables or for other works had also been raised by five per cent. This too should be dropped forthwith, he stressed. DMK zone Chairperson Vasuki said that the Councillors should be given ₹25 lakh each for spending in their respective wards in the lines of MP/MLA funds. This would help the members to plan and implement schemes for the people without hassle. She also wanted to know the reason for not opening the electric crematoriums built at Anaiyur, Melamadai and Naganakulam though they were ready for use. Saravana Bhuvaneshwari (DMK) urged the Mayor to spell out if the Open Space Reservation (OSR) land in the name of the Corporation had been transferred in the Commissioner's name. By delaying, she feared it may be encroached upon by people and then the administration would find it tough to evict the encroachers in future. Pandiselvi (DMK) said that when the Councillors in Tiruchi and Coimbatore Corporations were given ₹50 lakh each to spend in their wards, the administration here in Madurai provided only ₹25 lakh. This could be enhanced to at least ₹40 lakh each, she said. Pass for celestial wedding When a majority of the members sought the Corporation to make arrangements to issue pass so that they could attend the celestial wedding at Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple as part of the Chitirai festival next month, the Mayor said that even she had never been to the temple on the occasion in the past. 'I see the wedding being performed on TV,' she quipped. Councillor Baskaran, who represents the temple ward, said that though he managed to get a pass, he was stopped by the authorities last year. As the Councillors wanted to attend both the celestial wedding and Lord Kallazhagar's entry in Vaigai river, they urged the Corporation to get them the passes for both the events.
