The Hindu : `Chottanikkara Makam Thozhal' on March 6

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

`Chottanikkara Makam Thozhal' on March 6

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MARCH 2. The `Chottanikkara Makam Thozhal' festival will be held on March 6. Addressing a press meet here today, the Cochin Devaswom Board president, T. K. Vijayaraghavan, said that the temple committee had already started making the necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the ritual.

Discussions were held with the District Collector and the heads of the various administrative departments regarding the arrangements for the devotees arriving at the temple. There will be separate queues for women, men and those coming with families. The festival committee has also made arrangements to issue receipts to the devotees while in queue.

The Kerala State Electricity Board, the Health Department, the Public Works Department, the police and the Fire Force would work in tandem for the smooth conduct of the festival.

The Fire Force will be deployed from March 5. There will be no load-shedding during the festival on Saturday. Elephants participating in the festival will be issued with a fitness certificate, said the Devaswom Board president. Ambulance and medical care would be provided by the Health Department, he said.

The District Collector would review the arrangements on Wednesday.

A special meeting of the board had decided to distribute boiled water, `sambharam' and snacks to the devotees.

There will be no VIP passes. Information counters would be opened at the Eastern and Western gates of the temple. There will be counters for `pushpanjali' at the Western gate and the North side of the temple and pandals would be erected. Drinking water and toilet facilities would be enhanced during the festival.

The Special Devaswom Commissioner, Sankaran Elayed, the executive officer, Rajan K. Thallapilly, and other members of the festival and temple committee also addressed the meeting The Kshetra Samithy, Sai organisations and other organisations of devotees and individuals are helping the board and the temple committee in the proper conduct of the ritual, the officials said.

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