Srivilliputtur, August 11, 2013: Thousands of devotees, including ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats, pulled the Sri Andal Temple car amidst the chants of ‘Govinda…Govinda’ here on Friday.

The ‘Aadi Pooram’ festival to celebrate the birthday of presiding deity Sri Andal was the biggest event of the 12-day-long celebrations that began with flag hoisting on August 1.

Since 1985

Though the car festival had been taking place for more than 162 years, it was being held consecutively for the past 29 years since 1985.

Its nine wooden wheels had been replaced with four big iron wheels, made by Bharath Heavy Electricals Limited with hydraulic brake, after a few years. Its journey period shrunk in course of time due to the advent of technology.

All kinds of encroachments, wires and cables crisscrossing the four car streets around the temple were removed to ensure free movement of the temple car.

Superintendent of Police S.Maheswaran deployed police personnel in adequate strength to regulate the crowd.

National Service Scheme volunteers also chipped in. Mobile medical vans and Fire and Rescue Service teams were positioned at vantage points.

Charity organisations and political parties had erected ‘pandals’ to provide water and butter milk to the devotees. Roadside traders selling ‘palkova’ did a roaring business as pilgrims from neighbouring districts made it a point to buy a packet before returning home.

Roads were sanitised and traffic was diverted. Special bus services were operated.

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Senthur Pandian, Minister for Information and Special Programme Implementation K.T.Rajendhira Balaji, Minister for School Education, Sports and Youth Welfare Vaigaichelvan, CPI MLA Ponnupandian and DMDK MLA from Madurai Central constituency Sundarrajan pulled the car.

Collector T.N.Hariharan, HR and CE Assistant Commissioner Kavitha Priyadarshni, ‘thakar’ (fit person) K.Ravichandran and Executive Officer S.Subramanian supervised the arrangements.

Minor incidents

However, many women reported loss of jewels to the tune of 20 sovereigns. Special SI Srinivasan (50) of the Crime Investigation Department suffered injuries when the temple car hit a tree causing the sudden fall of a branch. He was shifted to the hospital, and given three sutures. Later he was discharged from the hospital. The car which began its journey at 8.05 a.m. returned to its base by 10.50 a.m.

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 11, 2013.