Latest news with #Othuvars
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Helipad work on for PM's visit
Trichy: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Ariyalur district on July 27, preparations for a temporary helipad commenced near the temple on Thursday. As a public meeting is planned near Brihadisvara temple complex, Ariyalur police declared a two kilometre radius as a 'red zone' encompassing the helipad, PM's convoy route, and the meeting venue. Ariyalur district collector P Rathinasamy and SP Vishwesh B Shastri inspected the helipad site on a vacant land close to Kuruvalappar temple, about one km from Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple. Officials said MGNREGA workers were roped in to clear the bushes in and around the helipad site and road connecting the temple. A ban has been imposed on flying drones on July 26 and 27. The PM will visit the temple on July 27 and participate in the final day of Aadi Thiruvathirai (birth anniversary) of Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. Traditional Othuvars will chant Devaram Thirumurai. On July 26, the Prime Minister will visit Tuticorin to inaugurate the newly expanded terminal of Tuticorin airport. During the event, he will dedicate railway projects worth Rs1,030 crore to the nation including the electrification of 90km Madurai-Bodinayakkanur line, doubling of 21km Nagercoil town-Kanyakumari section, and doubling of 12.8km Aralvaymozhi-Nagercoil junction as well as the 3.6km Tirunelveli-Melappalaiyam section. Thereafter, Modi is expected to fly to Trichy on July 26th night where he'll spend the night to participate in the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple event the next day.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HR&CE Department saw remarkable growth under Dravidian model government: T.N. CM Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday said the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has witnessed remarkable growth under the Dravidian model government over the last four years, reflecting both its spiritual commitment and inclusive development. Speaking at a free mass wedding event organised for 32 couples in Chennai, Mr. Stalin said a total of 2,376 free mass weddings have been conducted through the department in the last four years, including the 576 ceremonies held on Wednesday. Highlighting some of the department's achievements, Mr. Stalin said consecration ceremonies had been conducted in 3,177 temples, while 7,655.75 acres of encroached temple lands valued at ₹7,701 crore were retrieved across 997 temples. A total of 2.03 lakh acres of temple land have been surveyed and renovation works are under way at 26,000 temples at an estimated cost of ₹6,000 crore. He said the State advisory committee has approved repair works for 12,876 temples and a total of ₹425 crore has been allocated for restoring temples that are over 1,000 years old while preserving their heritage. The department has appointed 29 trained persons from all castes as priests and 46 Othuvars, including 12 women. The corpus fund under the 'Oru Kaala Poojai' scheme has been increased to ₹2.5 lakh, benefitting more than 18,000 temples. The government is also providing monthly honorariums to priests and educational scholarships to their children pursuing higher studies, he said. 'The Dravidian model government is working with an inclusive spirit of everything for everyone. However, some individuals who were driven by hate and a divisive agenda are unable to accept our accomplishments. True devotees have appreciated the initiatives undertaken by the government,' he said, adding that his government would continue working for the welfare of devotees. Ministers K.N. Nehru, Ma. Subramanian, and P.K. Sekarbabu and officials of the HR&CE Department were among others present.
