Kumbakonam: In a measure to facilitate several lakh pilgrims who would be thronging to this temple-town for the ensuing ‘Mahamaham’ festival, popularly known as ‘South’s Kumbh Mela’, it has been decided that people could take holy dip in the ‘Mahamaham tank’ here over a period of ten days from February 13, 2016, the day the festival commences here, up to February 22, the culminating day.
This was announced by the ‘Matathipathis (Pontiffs)’ and heads of various Mutts, after a meeting at Kumbakonam on Wednesday. Sri Kumaraswami Thambiran of Dharumapuram Adheenam, chief of Thiruppanandal Madam, Sri Sundaramurhty swamigal of Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, Sri A.V.Swaminathan Sivachariyar, principal of ‘Vedhapika Agama Patasala’, Mayiladuthurai and others participated in the meeting organised by N. Subbaiyan, Thanjavur district collector to discuss the spiritual and other holy aspects of the festival.
The Mutt heads said that the ‘Mahamaham’ festival will begin with flag hoisting on February 13. From that day onwards, people could take bath in the Mahamaham tank. This would also help the authorities in crowd control. On the first day, three ‘Matathipathis’ will take a holy dip in the tank.
