Thaipoosam festival at Marudhamalai Subramaniaswamy Temple: Security beefed up in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The city police have beefed up security in view of the Thaipoosam festival at Marudhamalai Subramaniaswamy Temple on Feb 1 (Sunday).More than two lakh people visited the Marudhamalai Subramaniaswamy Temple during the Thaipoosam festival last year. Since Thaipoosam falls on the weekend this year, a higher turnout is expected. Devotees from across the district and neighbouring districts would be arriving here starting Saturday. The city police and the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department have made extensive arrangements to manage the crowd and prevent crimes linked to overcrowding.For the first time, a block-based queue system has been introduced in front of the temple to ensure an orderly darshan. Devotees will be guided into a block-based queue extending from the parking area to the temple. Four blocks have been created to allow 1,500 people to have darshan at a time. After one group completes darshan, the next group will be allowed in. Temporary shelters have been erected in all areas to provide protection from the sun.At the foothill of Marudhamalai , devotees who want to travel to the temple by bus will be directed to the right side of the ground while those climbing the steps will be directed to the left. Ten minibuses and three regular buses have been arranged to operate on the hill road to the temple.Police said around 1,500 personnel have been deployed on shifts for security at Marudhamalai. Special teams have been formed to monitor the crowd and to prevent pickpocketing, chain snatching and robbery. In addition, 500 police personnel will be deployed at the Sangameswarar Temple at Kottaimedu on Saturday and Sunday to ensure security and prevent communal issues.