After the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) withdrew the condition prohibiting cooking of food/Prasadam on Thirupparankundram hill, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday directed Madurai Commissioner of Police to ensure that the ‘Malai Mel Kumarar’ festival was conducted peacefully and adequate measures were taken to maintain law and order.
A Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and K.K. Ramakrishnan was hearing a batch of petitions filed in this regard. The contention of the petitioners was that the ‘Malai Mel Kumarar’ festival was being conducted from time immemorial. This year, the festival was on October 9.
According to the petitioners, it was a customary practice to carry the ‘Vel’, the sacred spear of Lord Murugan, from the temple to the hilltop, where ‘abhishekam’ was performed to the ‘Vel’. Thereafter, the devotees and villagers assembled there to prepare Prasadam (Kadamba Sadam) for distribution among the devotees.
The petitioners said the Superintending Archaeologist (in-charge) Tiruchi Circle had forwarded a mail to Madurai Commissioner of Police referring to the status quo granted by the Supreme Court.
They said the ASI Tiruchi Circle imposed several conditions for conducting the function, including prohibition on cooking or any fire related activity on the premises of the Thirupparankundram hill. Aggrieved by the same, they had filed the petitions.
The court took into account that the Superintending Archaeologist (in-charge), Tiruchi Circle, had withdrawn the condition prohibiting the cooking of food/Prasadam on the hilltop of Thiruparankundram hill.
It was further brought to the notice of the court that the Supreme Court had directed the continuation of the customary and traditional practices on a status quo basis.
Taking note of it, the court directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the festival was conducted peacefully.
Published – October 09, 2026 09:40 pm IST
