Latest news with #HinduReligiousandCharitableEndowments
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Deputy CM Udhayanidhi inaugurates Tamil Nadu Fish Food Festival at Chennai
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday inaugurated the 'Tamil Nadu Fish Food Festival 2025' organized by the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare at Island Grounds in Chennai. The festival will be held for three days till June 1. According to an official release, the objective of organising the festival was to help the public gain knowledge about various fish-based food items. More than 50 stalls, an exhibition hall for ornamental fishes were among others set up at the venue. Cultural events and cooking competitions will be organised for students and women from fishing communities. This festival also aims to raise awareness about health benefits. Minister for Fisheries, Fishermen Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu, MPs Dayanidhi Maran, Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, MLAs and officials were among others present.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Visually-impaired woman appointed as Oodhuvar of Tamil Nadu's Thiruvanmiyur temple
CHENNAI: In a first for the state, a visually impaired woman has been appointed as an Oodhuvar in a temple under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. SS Priyavathana (24) from Chennai received her appointment order from Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday and was posted at the Pamban Swamigal temple in Thiruvanmiyur. With this, she becomes the 12th woman and the first visually impaired person to be appointed as Oodhuvar – devotional singers who recite Tamil hymns in temples. Since the DMK government assumed office, 35 Oodhuvars have been appointed, including 11 women. Born preterm, Priyavathana was diagnosed with visual impairment five months after birth. With her parents' support, she pursued a BA in Vocal Music from the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, completed diplomas in music teaching and in Isai Kalaimani, and later trained at the Archaka Training Institute. She now performs daily temple duties accompanied by one of her parents. Speaking to TNIE, her mother Subashini Sureshkumar, who has been her constant companion and first teacher, said, 'She would sit close to the TV speaker and hum along. We noticed her interest early and enrolled her in music classes.' Since Priyavathana does not read Braille, Subashini first memorised the songs and then taught them to her daughter. Over time, Priyavathana mastered various Tamil devotional hymns and has performed in temples and venues such as Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 'She also sings bhajans in Telugu, Hindi, and Marathi, and plays the violin. Her day is filled with music practice for three to four hours,' said Subashini, adding that she continues to support her daughter in every step.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Visually-challenged woman appointed as odhuvar of temple in Chennai
The Arulmigu Pamban Kumaragurudasar Swamy Temple at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai has a new odhuvar for whom the temple administration is preparing itself. A resident of Royapettah and a B. A. Music graduate S.S. Priyavathana, 24, is visually impaired and has been given the job, following a petition to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. 'A panel of experts from the department interviewed her and she sings well, which is why she was given the appointment. The Chief Minister was delighted to know that she did well,' said P.K. Sekarbabu, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Ms. Priyavathana was given the opportunity to perform in front of Mr. Stalin at a function on Tuesday (May 27, 2025) when she was handed over her appointment order. She sang 'Unnai deivam Enbadha, gurunatha', a song on Lord Ayyappan. The odhuvar will have to be present at the temple, which also has a shrine for Lord Muruga, in the mornings and evenings during abhishekam and during all festivals. She would sing songs from Saint Arunagirinathar's Thirupugazh and also Pamban Swamigal's works including the Shanmuga Kavacham. 'We know that she needs help and will ensure that someone is available to provide the requisite assistance. Our staff is also being sensitised,' said Sakthi Perumal, temple executive officer. Ms. Priyavathana, the daughter of Sureshkumar who runs a printing press, and Subashini, a homemaker, said she was happy to have sung the song for the Chief Minister. 'She was a pre-term baby and has been visually impaired from birth. Only when she was one, she would move listening to the sound of the TV and by three, she would sit in a nearby dance class listening to music. She studied at the Little Flower Convent and did her B.A. at the Government Music College. Her father and I take her outside. She also plays the violin. Her younger brother Yogin Nilesh, who is in class 12 helps her when at home. We are grateful to the Chief Minister and Mr. Sekarbabu for giving her this opportunity,' said her mother Subashini.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
HR&CE appoints visually impaired Priyavathana as odhuvar of Pamban Swamy temple
The Arulmigu Pamban Kumaragurudasar Swamy Temple at Thiruvanmiyur has a new odhuvar for whom the temple administration is preparing itself. A resident of Royapettah and a B. A. Music graduate S. S. Priyavathana, 24, is visually impaired and has been given the job, following a petition to Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. 'A panel of experts from the department interviewed her and she sings well, which is why she was given the appointment. The Chief Minister was delighted to know that she did well,' said P. K. Sekarbabu, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments. Ms. Priyavathana was given the opportunity to perform in front of Mr. Stalin at a function on Tuesday when she was handed over her appointment order. She sang 'Unnai deivam Enbadha, gurunatha', a song on Lord Ayyappan. The odhuvar will have to be present at the temple, which also has a shrine for Lord Muruga, in the mornings and evenings during abhishekam and during all festivals. She would sing songs from Saint Arunagirinathar's Thirupugazh and also Pamban Swamigal's works including the Shanmuga Kavacham. 'We know that she needs help and will ensure that someone is available to provide the requisite assistance. Our staff is also being sensitised,' said Sakthi Perumal, temple executive officer. Ms. Priyavathana, the daughter of Sureshkumar, who runs a printing press and Subashini, a homemaker, said she was happy to have sung the song for the Chief Minister. 'She was a pre-term baby and has been visually impaired from birth. Only when she was one, she would move listening to the sound of the TV and by three, she would sit in a nearby dance class listening to music. She studied at the Little Flower Convent and did her BA at the Government Music College. Her father and I take her outside. She also plays the violin. Her younger brother Yogin Nilesh, who is in plus 2 helps her when at home. We are grateful to the Chief Minister and Mr. Sekarbabu for giving her this opportunity,' said her mother Subashini.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Madras HC refuses to interfere with inquiry into alleged mismanagement of Tiruvarur Thyagarajaswamy temple properties
The Madras High Court has refused to interfere with a show-cause notice issued by Tamil Nadu's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, seeking an explanation from Sri-la-Sri Sathya Gnana Mahadeva Desika Paramachariya Swamigal of Velakurichi Mutt, regarding alleged mismanagement of properties belonging to two Kattalais of the ancient Thyagarajaswamy temple in Tiruvarur. Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy dismissed a writ petition pending in the High Court since 2002 and directed the Mutt head to submit an explanation to the HR&CE Commissioner within four weeks regarding the alleged mismanagment, occupation of Kattalai (endowment) properties by third parties, and non-cooperation of the Kattalaidars in proper administration of the properties. 'If the petitioner submits a fresh explanation, along with any previous explanations, those will be considered by the respondents (HR&CE department) in accordance with the law ... the petitioner will also be given due opportunity, including the chance for a personal hearing, and the matter will be decided in accordance with the law,' the judge ordered while deciding the 23-year-old case. The judge pointed out that the Tiruvarur Thyagaraja Swamy temple had a rich history, and its Aazhi Ther (temple chariot) was the largest in South India and widely known. A peculiar feature of the temple was that it did not have any immovable properties directly registered in its name. The administration of the temple was overseen by 13 Kattalais established for different purposes. Each of those Kattalais had been endowed with several hectares of properties used for fulfilling the temple's needs. Of the 13 Kattalais, Abisheka Kattalai and Annadhana Kattalai were the most significant. The Aadheena Karthars of Velakurichi Mutt serve as the hereditary trustees of these two Kattalais related to abishekam (ablution of the deity) and annadhanam (serving food to devotees). The British government had taken over the management of the Kattalai properties in 1817 but returned them in 1842. Thereafter, the HR&CE Act of 1927 empowered the then HR&CE Board to notifiy temples and specific endowments in cases of mismanagement. Accordingly, an Executive Officer was appointed for the administration of the temple in 1937, the judge said. Justice Chakravarthy further pointed out the Paramacharya Swamigal himself had admitted that though the two Kattalais had 3,900 acres of land as of 1937, nearly 2,600 acres had been lost over the decades, leaving the Kattalais with just 1,300 acres at present. Though the Mutt head pointed fingers at the Executive Officer in management since 1937, the HR&CE department, in turn, accused the petitioner of non-cooperation. 'Whether this accusation is factually correct or not is a separate question that cannot be addressed at the show-cause notice stage. However, I believe that given the nature of the trust involved and the fact that such a large and important temple relies entirely on its kattalais for its functions, I cannot accept the petitioner's claim that no reasons are provided in the show-cause notice,' the judge said. He recorded the submission of senior counsel A.K. Sriram, representing the Executive Officer, that the writ petitioner being an ascetic would not be able to manage large tracts of land belonging to the two Kattalais and that he had appointed managers to administer even the Velakurichi Aadheenam properties. Special Government Pleader (HR&CE) N.R.R. Arun Natarajan too opposed the petitioner's plea to quash the show-cause notice.
