Kanchipuram: Today is 14th day of Kanchi Athi Varadar darisanam. A holiday meant over two lakh devotees land in the temple town of Kanchipuram to offer prayers to the Almighty. Queues stretching several kilometers was witnessed as devotees rued lack of proper arrangements by the district administration.
The majestic 10 feet long idol of Lord Athi Varadar was decked up with various flowers and was adorned a ponvandu colour silk robe today. Special poojas were performed in the morning.
Being a holiday today, people not just from various districts of Tamilnadu but also from neighbouring States arrived in the temple town. Officials say that over two lakh devotees would offer prayers today. Yesterday, the town overflew with people who had gathered in similar numbers. Being an auspicious Ekadesi day, Saturday saw the maximum so far, they say.
Speaking about the arrangements, a section of devotees say, “We suffered a lot. There was no proper drinking water facilities. We were pushed and pulled. Cops maintaining vigil were very less in numbers. Senior citizens were worst affected. Many fainted in queues. Had they anticipated the crowd and planned properly, such scenes could have been avoided.”
Many said that even transportation facilities were not good. “We had to wait for long hours to get our buses. There were no shelters and we were forced to stand under hot sun for several hours,” they say.
“We come with bhakthi and faith to offer prayers to Athi Varadar. But the lack of facilities and ordeals we undergo worry us a lot,” they add.
Meanwhile, this morning, the officials spruced up arrangements. Additional temporary medical camps were set up and more ambulances were stationed around the temple. Arrangements to provide chlorinated water has been taken up. Understanding the gravity of the situation, many NGOs and voluntary organisations stepped in. They were seen providing food packets, water and snacks to devotees waiting in queue.
PHOTOS: D SUNDAR