Sunday, July 7, 2019

Athi Varadar devotees seek hassle-free online booking

CHENNAI, JULY 07, 2019 00:00 IST



HR&CE officials said four persons would be allowed on one Sahasranama archana ticket and more payment gateways would soon be added.File photo

Locals protest against the parking of visitors’ cars on streets

Devotees have asked that online booking of Sahasranamam archana tickets for the ongoing Athi Varadar festival, at the Sri Devarajaswamy temple, be smoothened without any glitches, and that it be open for more days at a time. Presently, booking is open for four days only and the portal athttps://tnhrce.gov.inopens at 10 a.m.

N.V. Srinivasa Rao from Chennai, who had a darshan of the wooden idol of Athi Varadar last week, said he was unable to add names and Aadhaar numbers in one go and the site was slow. “The payment gateway showed error and after continuous efforts, I managed to make a booking. The procedure for booking must be simplified,” he said.

Gill Nagar resident Sreemathy Mohan said a window of just four days was not enough. “This is a festival that comes once in 40 years and people are very eager to have a darshan of the Lord,” she said.

Ms. Mohan also said facilities for placing footwear must be provided near spots where queues begin. Visitors complained that local autorickshaws were fleecing customers. “Some were asking Rs. 350 to the railway station, which is too much. But share-autos and train services are really good,” she said. Southern Railway has introduced special trains to Kancheepuram for the festival.

Saturday witnessed large crowds since it is considered auspicious to visit Perumal temples on the day. Meanwhile, local residents have been protesting against the parking of vehicles on narrow streets near the temple.

Locals inconvenienced

Venugopal, a resident, said for the past few days he was unable to take his car out and was forced to commute by a two-wheeler to his office. “Local residents are put to a lot of trouble. Policemen are not taking cognisance of the passes that we were made to take for use of vehicles. But cars with VIP passes can be seen everywhere,” he said, adding that separate darshan for local residents, as promised, was not happening and that they were forced to visit the temple along with the visitors.

Officials in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department said four persons would be allowed on one Sahasranama archana ticket and that more payment gateways would soon be added. “A total of 250 tickets are being allowed on a daily basis,” an official said.

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