Buttermilk, panakam back for Srirangam devotees as heat rises

Trichy: The Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department has resumed distribution of herbal buttermilk and panakam (sweet drink) for devotees at the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam from Thursday, in view of rising summer temperatures.With around 5,000 devotees visiting the temple daily, the drinks are being distributed near the Ranga Ranga gopuram during peak noon hours. Officials said the initiative, supported by donors, will continue till mid-June. To ease movement amid the heat, jute mats have been laid along key pathways and corridors connecting the main shrine and sub-shrines. These include stretches between the Ranga Ranga gopuram, Thaayar shrine, Ranga Vilas Mandapam, Karthikai gopuram and Chakkarathalvar shrine. The mats will be periodically sprinkled with water during peak hours. With temperatures in the city crossing 36°C, the temple administration said adequate stocks of buttermilk and panakam will be ensured, especially between 11am and 2pm, when footfall is highest. MSID:: 129682271 413 |