Thirukural chants from clock towers to keep time for residents in Nanganallur

CHENNAI: Nanganallur will now wake up to the chants of

Thirukural couplets

, and mark every hour of the day with the holy verses too, as five clock towers in the area have been set up to let residents know the time.

Sanctioned by the former councillor of ward 167,

Hema Baraniprasad

, a recorded public address system in the clock towers will recite a couplet from the

Thirukural

once every hour.The idea is not just to lend an old world charm but also tell the time and encourage a sense of pride about Tamil heritage. “We wanted to do something innova tive and which would be of use to the public, and since our culture is being fast forgotten the clock towers and Thirukural couplets will serve as a reminder,“ said Baraniprasad. The clock towers installed at Kannan Nagar,

Independence Day Park

, TNGO Colony and 100 Feet Road in Lakshmi Nagar Seventh Street Extension and MMTC Colony Main Road will function from 6am to 10pm.

Residents were surprised to see the tower in the area and appreciated the initiative. “This is a good move and will especially help children know about our ancient verses,“ said

T Raja

of Independence Day park area. Another resident S Vasudevan of Kannan Nagar, said, “this is a great initiative for residents and walkers at the park as the couplets from the Thirukural are motivational''.

The project was set up at a cost of Rs 15 lakh and three more clock towers will come up in the second phase. “The funds for the project was sanctioned a few months ago, before the term ended and it took some time for the contractors to complete the work,'' said Baraniprasad. The former councilor has laid a pebble pathway and gymnasium equipment in the parks in the area. “This is part of a health initiative which everyone can use, especially the women who do not like using the gymnasium,“ he said.