Athi Varadar idol set for immersion
It will remain inside tank for 40 years
18/08/2019, DEEPA H. RAMAKRISHNAN,KANCHEEPURAM
It will remain inside tank for 40 years
18/08/2019, DEEPA H. RAMAKRISHNAN,KANCHEEPURAM
The utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy next to the idol of Athi Varadar on Saturday. B. Velankanni Raj
The idol of Athi Varadar is set to return to its underwater chamber inside the Ananthasaras tank at the Sri Devarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram late on Saturday, after 1 crore devotees flocked to it for darshan over the past 48 days.
The idol, made of fig wood, was brought out of the tank after 40 years and placed in the Vasantha Mandapam for devotees to have darshan. Once immersed, it will remain inside the tank for another 40 years. The chamber inside the tank has a brick floor and granite walls, and the idol will be kept in sayana kolam (reclining posture), facing east.
At 6 p.m., the utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy was brought out to the Vasantha Mandapam, where it stayed for 10 minutes near Athi Varadar. After this, the doors to the mandapam were closed to allow the priests to apply 60 kg of sandhanadhi thailam, containing various herbs, on the idol. This was done to prevent pest and fungus attacks on the idol.
Temple gets ₹11.5 crore
The Athi Varadar festival has made the temple richer by at least ₹11.5 crore.
As per an initial estimate, of the overall amount, around ₹7.5 crore has been earned through collections in the temple’s hundials; ₹2.5 crore through the online booking of tickets; and ₹1.5 crore through the Annadanam scheme, according to a senior official monitoring the conduct of the 48-day festival, which came to an end on Saturday.
Massive exercise
As for the expenditure, a total of ₹29 crore, allotted by the government originally towards the arrangements to be made by departments and agencies like the Public Works, Highways and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), is said to have been spent.
Besides, expenses were incurred in making extra arrangements for cleaning and providing drinking water, toilets and sheds. The temple administration has spent ₹2 crore.
Already, the Kancheepuram municipality has approached the government, seeking ₹19 crore towards expenses incurred during the festival.
The temple administration has spent ₹4.5 crore.
The Police Department is expected to seek reimbursement for the amount it has spent over and above what had been earmarked for it. As per a conservative estimate, around ₹45 crore may have been incurred additionally, which includes salary for the temporary staff hired.
The idol of Athi Varadar is set to return to its underwater chamber inside the Ananthasaras tank at the Sri Devarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram late on Saturday, after 1 crore devotees flocked to it for darshan over the past 48 days.
The idol, made of fig wood, was brought out of the tank after 40 years and placed in the Vasantha Mandapam for devotees to have darshan. Once immersed, it will remain inside the tank for another 40 years. The chamber inside the tank has a brick floor and granite walls, and the idol will be kept in sayana kolam (reclining posture), facing east.
At 6 p.m., the utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy was brought out to the Vasantha Mandapam, where it stayed for 10 minutes near Athi Varadar. After this, the doors to the mandapam were closed to allow the priests to apply 60 kg of sandhanadhi thailam, containing various herbs, on the idol. This was done to prevent pest and fungus attacks on the idol.
Temple gets ₹11.5 crore
The Athi Varadar festival has made the temple richer by at least ₹11.5 crore.
As per an initial estimate, of the overall amount, around ₹7.5 crore has been earned through collections in the temple’s hundials; ₹2.5 crore through the online booking of tickets; and ₹1.5 crore through the Annadanam scheme, according to a senior official monitoring the conduct of the 48-day festival, which came to an end on Saturday.
Massive exercise
As for the expenditure, a total of ₹29 crore, allotted by the government originally towards the arrangements to be made by departments and agencies like the Public Works, Highways and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), is said to have been spent.
Besides, expenses were incurred in making extra arrangements for cleaning and providing drinking water, toilets and sheds. The temple administration has spent ₹2 crore.
Already, the Kancheepuram municipality has approached the government, seeking ₹19 crore towards expenses incurred during the festival.
The temple administration has spent ₹4.5 crore.
The Police Department is expected to seek reimbursement for the amount it has spent over and above what had been earmarked for it. As per a conservative estimate, around ₹45 crore may have been incurred additionally, which includes salary for the temporary staff hired.
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