Mangaladevi temple fest: Devotees have to return same day

MADURAI: The district collectors of Theni and Idukki in Kerala, who participated in an inter-district meet to discuss the arrangements of the Mangaladevi temple festival, said that devotees would have to go up and return the same day.

The temple for Goddess Kannagi is situated on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, 4,830 feet above sea level.

The temple lies within the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. Therefore, devotees can visit this temple only once a year, on the day of ‘Chithira pournami’. They have to use the route from Kumili in Kerala, which is 14km long. Though the route from Tamil Nadu near Palliankudi is just 6.6km long it is a rough footpath, which makes climbing difficult. This too is in the Megamalai reserve forest area. Hence, the route through Kerala is preferred.

Last year, the Kerala government resolved that devotees could go up to the temple 24 days a year - on full moon days, New Year, Navarathiri and Shivarathiri. Members of the trustee board of the temple cited this and sought permission to go up to the temple for two days for the Chithira pournami festival, but it was refused. They were told that they would be allowed to go up between 6am to 4pm after which they should return.

On Saturday, Theni district collector Pallavi M Baldev and Idukki district collector H Dineshan, participated in the meet along with the managing trustee of the temple, Dr Rajendran, secretary Raja Ganeshan, treasurer PSM Murugan and officials in Cumbum.

Murugan said that if the ministers kept their promise and laid a proper road from Palliankudi to the Kannagi temple, they would be allowed to go up throughout the year after obtaining the permission from the Theni collector and district forest officer.