Madurai collector instructs departments to prepare for Chithirai festival

Madurai: A preparatory meeting was held on Friday at the district collectorate for the upcoming Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Chithirai festival and the event of Arulmigu Kallazhagar entering the Vaigai river.District Collector K J Praveen Kumar, who held the meeting in the presence of city police commissioner J Loganathan, stated that detailed security arrangements must be made at all important locations where the festival is taking place. He instructed police officials to monitor the temple premises and main routes by installing surveillance cameras and advised them to arrange loudspeaker (PA system) facilities to provide warning announcements to devotees.He instructed the city corporation and local body officials to undertake necessary drinking water, toilet, health facilities, and cleaning works for the devotees, and to continuously maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the festival areas. He said govt and private hospitals should collaborate to keep emergency treatment facilities, ambulance services, and necessary stocks of medicines ready.The collector also said that fire engines and rescue teams should be kept in a state of readiness to take immediate action during emergencies. On behalf of the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department and temple administration, he instructed officials to make arrangements, including pandals, electric decorations, and flower decorations in the mandapams, and to arrange safety and insurance facilities for devotees and staff.He instructed Tangedco to inspect all power cables in Masi streets, and take adequate precautionary measures regarding low-hanging electrical wires. He said the public must be informed in advance about which areas would have power shutdowns on the day of the chariot procession.The collector also said those providing annadhanam (free food) must obtain prior permission from food safety department officials.He also said that arrangements have been made to operate additional special buses from Natham, Melur, Vadipatti, and Madurai city areas, and instructed officials that separate routes must be established to avoid traffic congestion.The festival begins on April 26 with the Meenakshi Amman coronation and a flag hoisting on April 27, followed by the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Celestial Wedding (Thirukalyanam) on April 28. On April 29, the chariot procession (therottam) will be conducted, followed by Kallalagar Ethirsevai on April 30. The event of Kallalagar entering the Vaigai river will take place on May 1.