Focus on Tamil during Kandasashthi: Minister

CHENNAI Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) S. Ramesh on Tuesday said that Tamil language and literature will be given priority during the Kandasashthi festival in all major Murugan temples. He urged temples under the purview of the department to ensure that Odhuvars chant/sing the Thirupugazh, Thirumurai, and Kandasashthi kavacham.

Priests should also give priority to Tamil in all pujas and proceedings during the festival. Discourses and concerts should be in Tamil as well, he added. In a set of directions issued to executive officers of temples, the Minister said that special arrangements must be made for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and mothers-to-be at temples for darshan.

Volunteers should be made available to assist such devotees, said an official statement here. Mr. Ramesh said that temple officials should coordinate with the police, fire and other departments to ensure proper arrangements such as drinking water, toilets and medical care for devotees for darshan, during Kandasashthi and Sura Samharam.