Posted by AI on 2025-05-12 21:54:32 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-22 03:09:27
Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 8
The Tamil Nadu government is taking steps to enable devotees to visit the Kannagi temple on every full moon day despite protests from local residents, according to the state's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister P.K. Sekar Babu.
In recent months, local residents have objected to busloads of pilgrims being brought to the temple, claiming that the shrine is located in a peaceful, rural area and is not designed to accommodate large numbers of visitors. Earlier this month, locals reportedly confronted pilgrims who had arrived for a visit on the occasion of Pongal.
Despite this, the HR&CE Minister has suggested that steps are being taken to enable devotees to visit the temple on the full moon day of every month. Speaking to the media on Monday, January 23, Sekar Babu said that the government will soon introduce special buses equipped with Wi-Fi and charging points, while additional parking spaces are also being planned.
"The government is taking all necessary measures to see that devotees can visit the temple on every full moon day and offer their prayers without any hindrance," he said.
The minister's comments come amid a surge in tensions between residents and pilgrims, with many locals urging the government to take action to address their concerns over noise, pollution, and traffic, with some even calling for the temple's relocation.
In response to the recent incidents, Sekar Babu urged both residents and devotees to respect each other's interests and work together in a spirit of harmony and understanding. "Both the locals and the devotees must cooperate with each other and ensure that nobody's religious rights are affected in any way," he said.
Only time will tell whether the minister's calls for peace and cooperation will be heeded, and whether the state government's efforts will be enough to enable large numbers of devotees to visit the temple every full moon without impacting local residents.