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Thousands witness Ratnagiri temple mahakumbhabhishekam

By Our Staff Reporter

Sri Balamuruganadimai pouring holy water on one of the kalasams atop the newly-built ``melvimanam' at the Balamurugan temple, Ratnagiri, near Vellore, on Thursday.

VELLORE Feb. 6. Thousands of devotees witnessed the first mahakumbhabhishekam of the Balamurugan temple on Ratnagiri, about 15 km from here, on Thursday. The new `moolasthanam' (sanctum sanctorum), the `melvimanam', built atop the `moolasthana vimanam', the new sannadhi of Selva Vinayakar and the newly-built `mugappu mandapam' were consecrated by Sri Balamuruganadimai, hereditary trustee, and other saints.

Devotees from different parts of the State and especially from Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts started making a beeline for the temple from 6 a.m. and occupied vantage points to witness holy waters being poured on the newly-designed gold-plated kalasams kept atop the `vimanams' (towers).

Sri Sachidananda Swami of Kalavai, Sakthi Amma of Sri Narayani Peedam, Thirumalaikkodi, Sri Santhalinga Ramasamy Adigalar of Perur Adheenam, Coimbatore, Sri Sivapuri Swami of Omkara Ashramam, Bangalore, Shaktha Sri Sivalingeswara Swami of Kamatchipuri Adheenam, Coimbatore, and Sri Ooran Adigal of Vadalur were among the saints who participated. N.T.Shanmugam, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, was among the dignitaries who witnessed the event.

As soon as the maha samprokshanam was performed at about 10.15 a.m., the devotees waiting below the `melvimanam' surged forward to get themselves sprinkled with the holy waters. Sri Balamuruganadimai distributed `prasadam' to devotees.

Our Pondicherry Staff Reporter reports:

In Pondicherry, the Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, the Education Minister, K. Lakshminarayanan, other Ministers and legislators participated in kumbhabhishekams held in various temples, including the Akkaswamigal shrine.

Mr. Rangasamy and Mr. Lakshminarayanan also attended a pooja held on the occasion of the opening of the regional office of The Hindu on the new premises — 135, Mission Street (upstairs).

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