The Hindu : Chief Secretary reviews progress of Mahamaham works

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Chief Secretary reviews progress of Mahamaham works

By Our Staff Reporter

KUMBAKONAM, FEB. 14. The Chief Secretary, Lakshmi Pranesh, today expressed satisfaction at the progress of works carried out for the Mahamaham festival to be held here on March 6. She said the "festival will pass off peacefully."

She told presspersons here after a review meeting, "You (press) are also witness to the progress of the works.

Water will be filled in the tank to help devotees to take a holy dip from February 26."

Earlier, the Chief Secretary inspected work on the construction of two bridges across the Cauvery on the eight-km bypass road. She enquired with Highways department officials when buses could be operated on the stretch.

The officials replied that the road might be thrown open for traffic on March 1.

She was shown the route map to the town prepared by the police department. She witnessed work going on at the temporary bus stands at Ammapettai and Asur near here, visited the auditorium and the Mahamaham tank. The tank was filled with sand and the 20 theerthavari wells had been renovated. Name plates have been put up at each theertham. Water was filled into the tank on a trial basis. It had been planned to fill water in the tank from February 17 for the people to take a holy dip from February 26 to March 6.

S. Kosalaraman, Thanjavur Collector, said kumbhabishekam of the 17 temples had been performed on February 5.

In all, 2,036 special buses would be operated between March 4 and 7 on all routes leading to the town. To regulate traffic, transport staff would be put on duty at temporary bus stands at 10 places.

After completion of guage conversion between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, shuttle trains would be operated once in 15 minutes on the route. Similarly, on the Mayiladuthurai-Kumbakonam metre gauge section, special trains would be operated once in 15 minutes.

An exhibition will be inaugurated tomorrow and it will go on till March 15.

Joint directors of health from eight districts have been put on duty at the Government hospital here for the duration of the festival.

The festival starts from February 26 with Anugai and Vigenswara puja. Dwajarohanam will be held in the 12 saivite temples marking the beginning of the festival. It will be conducted in the five vaishnavite temples the next day. Deities will be taken in a procession every day till March 6. Abhishekams will be performed on March 7 and 8.

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