A large number of devotees at Sri Dhandayuthapani Swami Temple in Palani on Thursday.
Devotees at Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
L. BALACHANDAR
Scores of devotees from far and wide visited Sri Dhandayuthapani Swami Temple in Palani on New Year Day, Thursday, that it took a minimum of three hours to have darshan of the presiding deity on the hill temple.
HR&CE officials said there were long queues at the winch and rope car facilities from early hours. Devotees had to wait for two to three hours to board the rope car and winch. There were also long queues of pilgrims trekking to the hill top.
The annadhanam centre was also packed with devotees through out the day. The parking areas in and around the temple town was overflowing.
The devotees, who were on padayatra and carrying kavadi with them, also reached the abode on Wednesday night. After a dip, they climbed up the hill to fulfil their vows.
Major hotels had full occupancy and local restaurants and eateries too brimmed with customers. The annadhanam provided by private trusts gave packed food and drinking water at various locations.
Police deployed in the vicinity said that CCTV cameras were installed around the temple and at vantage locations.
In Rameswaram, devotees took a holy dip at the Agni Theertham in the early hours and before going to Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple for darshan. There was a long queue from 3.45 a.m.
Likewise, people visited churches in Pamban and other locations in the coastal district and joined in special prayers and mass.
Visitors thronged Dhanushkodi and Arichalmunai islet too and the tourist spots were full from 10 a.m. Police pickets were posted and check posts were manned by guards round the clock.
Special buses were organised for the people from other cities to reach Ramanathaswamy Temple, TNSTC officials said.
Published – January 01, 2026 07:32 pm IST
