Thai poosam at Thiruparankundram peaceful

MADURAI: The Thai poosam festival in Subramaniya Swamy Temple at Thiruparankundram passed off peacefully on Tuesday with a sea of devotees thronging the hill shrine celebrating the occasion with religious fervour. The festival is marked by worship of Lord Murugan, the deity of war, victory, and wisdom.

The festival was the first event at the shrine after the recent temple-dargah row. Police took no chances and made adequate bandobast to prevent any untoward incident.

According to police sources, the bandobast was increased at the temple, Kasi Viswanathar temple, Sikkandar dargah, church and other important points in the area. Under the supervision of Police Commissioner J Loganathan, a total of 500 police personnel, including two deputy commissioners of police (one for traffic and another for law and order) and four assistant commissioners of police (one to monitor inside the temple, second to keep a watch on hilltop, third to keep a check on ‘Girivalam’ routes and fourth for traffic), were deployed to keep untoward incidents at bay. The police bandobast was five times larger than the previous years.