Four drown in Tamil Nadu temple tank after stampede

Chennai: The much-revered Mahodaya Amavasya, which occurred after about 27 years, was observed with religious fervour at coastal Kodiyakarai in Vedaranyam and other parts in the state. The attempt to take a dip at Tiruvannamalai, however turned tragic to four persons, who died in stampede.

On this grand event several lakhs of Hindus performed ‘tharpanam’ and other ‘pitru’ (exalted ancestral beings) worship and fed the poor, at Vedaranyam, Ambasamudram, Pudukottai and Tiruvannamalai. Among the religious spots for observing Mahodaya Amavasya, Vedaranyam is considered very sacred as Lord Kala Bhairava first created the Mahodaya Amavasya sacred time and Vedaranyam (Veda vaasal, Jothi vaasal, Vilakku vaasal, Pitru Mukti vaasal, Theertha vaasal) — a unique “Pancha vaasal” sacred space on the planet.

The Amavasya (New Moon Day) occurred on Feb. 8 in conjunction with Soma-vaaram (Monday), Thiruvonam (Sravana) Nakshatra and Vyatheepaatham Yogam, which is very rare.

In Nagapattinam, the district administration declared local holiday for Monday. In view of the festival Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had ordered the operation of special buses besides adequate arrangement including drinking water for the pilgrims. Lakhs of Hindus took a holy dip in coastal Kodiakarai in Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam district.

In Tiruvannamalai, the incident happened at Ayyan Theerthavari Kulam when over 2,000 devotees attempted to take a holy dip along with the temple priests who entered the waters with the sacred trident on Monday morning after performing special poojas for the trident. It is said four persons drowned in the tank of famous Lord Arunachaleswarar temple due to the stampede during the ‘theerthavari’ (holy dip).

The four persons identified as Punniakodi, Venkatraman, Siva and Manikandan were assisting the temple chief priest in the prayers. Police sealed the tank entrance and rescued about 50 people who were trapped in the stampede.