Massive Devotee Turnout at Marudhamalai Temple for Thai Poosam Festival
Coimbatore witnessed an extraordinary spiritual gathering as more than five lakh devotees flocked to the Subramaniyaswami Temple at Marudhamalai on Sunday to offer prayers and make offerings on the auspicious occasion of the 'Thai Poosam' festival. The temple, a revered site for Lord Murugan devotees, saw an overwhelming influx of pilgrims from across the district and neighboring regions, marking a significant celebration of faith and devotion.
Enhanced Arrangements and Crowd Management
In anticipation of the festival, devotees began arriving at the temple as early as Saturday, eager for darshan. Many carried traditional 'kavadis' and milk pots as offerings, while some engaged in rituals such as body piercing with 'alagu' to honor the occasion. According to sources, nearly six lakh devotees visited the temple over the past two days, highlighting the festival's immense popularity.
To manage the massive crowds, authorities deployed approximately 1,500 police personnel in shifts to ensure security and order at Marudhamalai. For the first time, a block-based queue system was implemented in front of the temple to facilitate orderly darshan. Temporary shelters were also erected in several areas to provide protection from the sun, demonstrating improved arrangements compared to previous years.
Devotee Experiences and Challenges
Despite these measures, overcrowding led to long waiting times, with some devotees reporting delays of over four hours for darshan on Sunday. A Vadivel, a devotee from Sundarapuram, shared his experience, noting, "I visited the temple last 'Thai Poosam' too, and this year the arrangements were better compared to the previous year. I have been visiting the Marudhamalai temple for a long time, but the crowd has been too large over the past two years. Because of the large crowd, we had to wait for more than three hours to get darshan."
R S Sivakumar of Sowripalayam recounted visiting the temple on Saturday night, mentioning a temporary disruption when an elephant entered the area, leading to the closure of steps and a 40-minute halt in bus services. However, he praised the overall neatness of the arrangements.
Community Support and Infrastructure Developments
In a show of community spirit, various organizations and political parties distributed water, fruits, and food to devotees at the Marudhamalai temple, providing much-needed relief during the festivities. Additionally, a significant infrastructure upgrade was inaugurated by P K Sekar Babu, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) minister. He unveiled a recently constructed lift at the Marudhamalai Subramaniyaswami Temple, built at a cost of Rs 5.20 crore, in the presence of P N Sridhar, commissioner of the HR&CE department from Chennai. This new facility aims to enhance accessibility for devotees, particularly the elderly and differently-abled, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve temple amenities.
The Thai Poosam festival at Marudhamalai continues to draw massive crowds, underscoring its cultural and religious significance in Tamil Nadu. While challenges like overcrowding persist, the enhanced security measures and community initiatives have contributed to a more organized and supportive environment for devotees, ensuring that the spiritual essence of the festival remains intact.
