<p>Chennai: Amid chants of ‘<em>Vetrivel Muruganukku arogara’</em> (hail Lord Murugan), lakhs of devotees on Monday witnessed the maha kumbhabhishekam (consecration) of the Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district. </p><p>Held after a gap of 16 years, the consecration ceremony was presided over by Sringeri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Vidushekhara Bharati, and head of the Dharmapuram Shaivite mutt as lakhs of people gathered at the seashore overlooking the temple. </p><p>The consecration ceremony, which was conducted between 6.15 am and 6.50 am, drew crowds from across Tamil Nadu, and neighbouring states like Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. </p>.Temple security guard's custodial death kicks up political row in Tamil Nadu, 5 accused cops held.<p>After the 12<sup>th</sup> phase of the yagasala pooja came to an end, the holy water was carried in a ceremonial procession, culminating in pouring it on the Kumba Kalasa. Following the consecration event rituals, holy water was sprayed on devotees with drones.</p><p>The ceremony was mired in controversy after Tamil nationalist outfit Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) demanded that the consecration should be held in Tamil style with mantras and hymns being recited only in the language, not in Sanskrit. Following the row, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department said the hymns will be chanted in Tamil as well. </p><p>The DMK government was also under pressure to ensure that the event is conducted without many issues as it already battles the “anti-Hindu” tag given to it by the BJP. </p><p>HR & CE minister P K Sekarbabu said about five lakh people attended the consecration of the temple. “The government has added pride to Lord Murugan. It is under the DMK government that such events have been held in Murugan temples in Marudhamalai, and Vadapalani. We will have the consecration of Thiruparankundram Murugan temple on July 14,” he said.</p><p>Lord Murugan has been the most politicised topic in Tamil Nadu in the past few weeks with the Hindu Munnani holding a conference in praise of the god that ended up criticising the Dravidian movement and asking Hindus to unite and vote as one group.</p><p>Tiruchendur is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan, widely considered to be the Tamil God. The ceremony is also considered as a major milestone in the implementation of the master plan for transformational redevelopment of the temple.</p><p>“The first temple to be mostly completed under the scheme, the transformation makes it possible for an enhanced and divine experience to all devotees. The transformation is a magnificent blend of heritage conservation, enhanced aesthetics, first rate facilities and functional landscape,” senior bureaucrat B Chandra Mohan said. </p><p>Of the Rs 297 crore spent on renovating the temple, which attracts lakhs of devotees during festival seasons, billionaire businessman and HCL founder Shiv Nadar donated Rs 206 crore. </p>
<p>Chennai: Amid chants of ‘<em>Vetrivel Muruganukku arogara’</em> (hail Lord Murugan), lakhs of devotees on Monday witnessed the maha kumbhabhishekam (consecration) of the Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district. </p><p>Held after a gap of 16 years, the consecration ceremony was presided over by Sringeri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Vidushekhara Bharati, and head of the Dharmapuram Shaivite mutt as lakhs of people gathered at the seashore overlooking the temple. </p><p>The consecration ceremony, which was conducted between 6.15 am and 6.50 am, drew crowds from across Tamil Nadu, and neighbouring states like Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. </p>.Temple security guard's custodial death kicks up political row in Tamil Nadu, 5 accused cops held.<p>After the 12<sup>th</sup> phase of the yagasala pooja came to an end, the holy water was carried in a ceremonial procession, culminating in pouring it on the Kumba Kalasa. Following the consecration event rituals, holy water was sprayed on devotees with drones.</p><p>The ceremony was mired in controversy after Tamil nationalist outfit Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) demanded that the consecration should be held in Tamil style with mantras and hymns being recited only in the language, not in Sanskrit. Following the row, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department said the hymns will be chanted in Tamil as well. </p><p>The DMK government was also under pressure to ensure that the event is conducted without many issues as it already battles the “anti-Hindu” tag given to it by the BJP. </p><p>HR & CE minister P K Sekarbabu said about five lakh people attended the consecration of the temple. “The government has added pride to Lord Murugan. It is under the DMK government that such events have been held in Murugan temples in Marudhamalai, and Vadapalani. We will have the consecration of Thiruparankundram Murugan temple on July 14,” he said.</p><p>Lord Murugan has been the most politicised topic in Tamil Nadu in the past few weeks with the Hindu Munnani holding a conference in praise of the god that ended up criticising the Dravidian movement and asking Hindus to unite and vote as one group.</p><p>Tiruchendur is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan, widely considered to be the Tamil God. The ceremony is also considered as a major milestone in the implementation of the master plan for transformational redevelopment of the temple.</p><p>“The first temple to be mostly completed under the scheme, the transformation makes it possible for an enhanced and divine experience to all devotees. The transformation is a magnificent blend of heritage conservation, enhanced aesthetics, first rate facilities and functional landscape,” senior bureaucrat B Chandra Mohan said. </p><p>Of the Rs 297 crore spent on renovating the temple, which attracts lakhs of devotees during festival seasons, billionaire businessman and HCL founder Shiv Nadar donated Rs 206 crore. </p>