Vinayaka Chaviti Celebratated with huge devotee followers
Dindigul, September 10, 2013: Vinayakar Chathurti was celebrated with religious fervour in the district on Monday.
Forty-two persons were arrested when they attempted to install Vinayagar idols in places that were not identified by the police. The police arrested 25 members of Hindu Munnani (HM), including its State vice-president V. Murthy, when they installed a Vinayakar idol at Paraipatti village without obtaining prior permission from them.
The HM members installed the idol at the village in the morning despite a police advisory to political parties against installation of idols in unauthorised places.
A tense situation prevailed at the village where police personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure. Amid tight security, the police took the idol and immersed it at Kottaikulam near Rockfort.
In another incident, a section of residents of Anumandharayankottai protested against installation of Vinayakar idol in their village. That idol was also seized and brought to Kottaikulam for immersion.
Meanwhile, 17 members of Hindu Makkal Katchi tried to take out a procession with a four-foot-high Vinayagar idol, saying they were going to install the idol at Katchatheevu, which was a part of India. They were arrested and the idol was seized from them.
Special pujas, abishekam and aradhanas were performed to Vinayakar idols in all Vinayakar temples in the district as part of the Chathurti celebrations. A 32-foot-high Vinayakar idol was installed at ‘108 Vinayagar Temple’ on the west bank of Gopalasamudram tank and special pujas performed to the idol in the morning.
Devotees thronged Vellai Vinayakar Temple, Vazhikatti Vinayakar Temple and Selva Vinayakar Temple. Cultural programmes were performed at the temples.
Ramanathapuram
Vinayaka Chathurti was celebrated in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts with religious fervour and traditional gaiety.
At many households, people placed Ganesh idols made of clay on a raised platform and offered worship. After the celebration, the idols, which were decorated with colour paintings, flowers and adorned by colourful paper umbrellas, were immersed in wells and water bodies in the evening.
After celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at home, people visited Vinayaka temples and offered prayers. They offered “Kozhukattai” a sweet delicacy to Lord Ganesha, seeking prosperity and to overcome obstacles in life.
Children attired in the best prayed to the elephant-headed God, seeking wisdom, knowledge and success in their endeavours. All the Vinayaka temples were decorated with lights.
A large number of people visited the Veyil Ugantha Vinayakar Temple at Uppur and offered worship after taking part in the car festival on Sunday evening.
Hundreds of people from all parts of the State thronged the famous Karpaga Vinayakar Temple at Pillayarpatti in Sivaganga district and offered prayers on the final day of the 10-day festival which culminated with a procession of ‘Pancha moorthigal.’
Idols of Lord Ganesha in different sizes were installed at various places in the districts for public to offer worship. They would be taken in a procession for immersion in the sea after week-long celebrations. The police have made security arrangements for the immersion ceremony and demarcated specific places and dates for idol immersion.
Source: The Hindu, September 10, 2013