Authorities in Tiruchendur have prepared a coordinated crowd-management and public-safety plan for the six-day Kanda Sashti festival, which is expected to attract around 10 lakh devotees to the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple from November 10 to 16.
Thoothukudi Collector Vishu Mahajan inspected the arrangements on November 6, including temporary parking areas, bus stands, drinking-water facilities, mobile toilets, medical infrastructure and shelter facilities for devotees observing the fast. The inspection covered locations across Tiruchendur and Veerapandianpattinam.
The festival will begin on November 10 with the hoisting of the temple flag. The temple is expected to open early during the festival, with special worship and rituals scheduled for devotees. The main crowd surge is expected on November 15, when more than one lakh people are likely to gather for the Soorasamharam ceremony at about 4 pm on the seashore opposite the temple.
The ceremony marks the symbolic slaying of the demon Soorapadman by Lord Muruga. The festival will conclude on November 16 with the thirukalyanam, or the celestial wedding of Lord Muruga with Goddess Deivanai.
The temple administration is coordinating with the revenue, health, fire and rescue services, police, Coast Guard and Coastal Security Group. The authorities have also cleaned the entire three-kilometre stretch of seashore between the Subramaniya Swamy Temple and the Ayyavazhi Temple ahead of the expected influx.
During his inspection, Mahajan visited temporary parking locations for private vehicles and temporary bus stands at J.J. Nagar in Veerapandianpattinam, land belonging to the Traders’ Association on Tirunelveli Main Road, the Senthil Andavar Boys Higher Secondary School premises and Ideal Park. He reviewed the availability of drinking water and mobile toilets at these sites.
The Collector also inspected the government hospital to assess the availability of beds and medical equipment. First-aid centres on the temple premises were reviewed for their readiness to treat devotees during the festival. Permanent and temporary shelters for devotees observing the fast were also inspected.
After the field visit, Mahajan held a meeting with officials at the temple office and issued instructions on the preparations required. Temple joint commissioner Arunachalam, Tiruchendur revenue divisional officer Goutham, assistant collector trainee Patil Krishna Baburan, Tiruchendur municipality commissioner Ezhaventhan, tahsildar Thangasamy and other officials accompanied him during the inspection.
