Officials discuss preparatory works for Chithirai festival

Ahead of the Chithirai festival, Madurai Collector M.S. Sangeetha chaired a preparatory meeting to discuss the works to be undertaken by various departments, at the Collectorate on Saturday.

Ahead of the Chithirai festival, Madurai Collector M.S. Sangeetha chaired a preparatory meeting to discuss the works to be undertaken by various departments, at the Collectorate on Saturday.

She highlighted Madras High Court’s direction prohibiting use of pressure pumps to spray water on devotees. She asked Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials to allow only those who would spray water during the procession of Lord Kallazhagar in the traditional way.

She warned of strict action against those who would not follow the court’s directions. City Police Commissioner J. Loganathan asked Madurai Corporation officials to instruct people who would set up shops on the procession route from Alagarkoil to Madurai not to sell blowhorn toys.

“As the toys are misused by many youngsters to harass women and girls, the shopkeepers should be warned that if they sell the toys, they would be seized by the police,” he said.

He told the HR&CE Department officials to place barricades firmly at the entry points near Vaigai river, as it became a problem when the barricades could not withstand the force of the crowd last year.

To prevent any untoward incidents, Mr. Loganathan suggested that the food that would be distributed to the public and the devotees be tested by food safety officials.

However, due to practical difficulties in testing all the food items, it was suggested that the food safety officials could test at least the water quality of uncooked foods like buttermilk and ‘panagam,’ (traditional sweetened water).