We will seek legal action against temple authorities: mandagapadi owners

MADURAI

The mandagapadi owners at whose mandagapadis Lord Kallazhagar’s palanquin did not halt en route to river Vaigai, said they have decided to petition Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department P. K. Sekarbabu and Madurai Collector S. Aneesh Sekhar with regard to seeking action against Alagarkoil temple authorities, here on Monday.

They held the authorities responsible for not halting the procession at more than 60 mandagapadis.

During the press meet, M. M. Muthunayagam alias Mohan said, “When we questioned the authorities as to why the mandagapadis were skipped, they kept giving us different reasons.” “We are also ready to go to the court”, he added.

“The second of the three-time sevais assumes much significance as it takes place before Lord Kallazhagar on ‘Kuthirai vahanam’ enters the river Vaigai and this was skipped for the first time in atleast 68 mandagapadis in Tallakulam”, said Mr. Muthunayagam.

The fees paid for the three-time sevai depend on each mandagapadi, but the average fee was ₹10,200, he affirmed. The owners of mandagapadis claimed that they incurred a loss of up to ₹5 lakh spent on elaborate arrangements.

“About 500 people would assemble every year at his mandagapadi”, said K. V. K. R. Prabaharan whose mandagapadi is located opposite Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple in Tallakulam.

As per tradition, a set of rituals would be performed during the stopover of the Lord’s procession at various mandagapadis.