’Ashtami Chapparam’ draws devotees from far and near in Madurai
The Hindu
MADURAI The “Ashtami Chapparam,” an important event in the calendar of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar T
The “Ashtami Chapparam,” an important event in the calendar of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, drew a large number of devotees from far and near on Friday.
The presiding deities - Goddess Meenakshi Amman, Sundareswarar and Piriyavidai - were drawn in the car by thousands of devotees. Starting from the temple at around 5.30 a.m., the devotees pulled the car through the Adi, Avani, Masi and Veli Streets.
Explaining the significance of the Ashtami Chapparam, the HR&CE officials said that it was conducted for the wellness of the people and that no one should starve for food on the Mother Earth. The event marks the beginning of “Margazhi” the Tamil month as well. The police made elaborate security arrangements. Traffic was diverted till the presiding deities were brought back to the temple.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.