Veerapandi temple festival begins on Tuesday | The Hindu

Elaborate arrangements have been made for Chithirai festival of Sri Gowmariamman Temple at Veerapandi near here scheduled to commence on Tuesday.

The car festival will be held on May 11. The eight-day festival will conclude on May 15.

Inspecting arrangements on the temple campus here on Monday, Collector M. Pallavai Baldev said priority was given for the safety and security of devotees and their belongings. Barricades were erected inside the temple to enable men and women to have darshan separately.

TANGEDCO will ensure an uninterrupted power supply to the temple. The TNSTC will operate special services to Veerapandi.

Theni-Cumbum Road at Veerapandi would be closed for traffic during the festival. All vehicles coming from Theni would be diverted through Uppukottai and Kuchanur to reach Chinnamanur.

Vehicles proceeding to Theni from Cumbum and Kumuli would pass through Thappugundu and Koduvilarpatti. Veerapandi Bypass would be used far parking vehicles, she added.

Security would be tightened along the banks of Mulla Periyar river to ensure safety of devotees. A total 50 CCTV cameras – 25 inside the temple and 25 outside the temple – were fitted for effective surveillance. A revolving dome camera was fitted to monitor the crowd. Surveillance towers were also erected to monitor riverbank area, bus stand and temple campus.

A medical team would camp at the temple and ‘108’ ambulance was kept ready to assist devotees in case of an emergency. Firepot offering spot would be guarded by fire and rescue service personnel. Two earthmovers and four tractors were provided to clear the area.

The public addressing system was also fitted to make announcements and to pass information to devotees. Two temporary bus stands were set up on both sides of the temple to halt vehicles from Chinnamanur and Theni, she pointed out.