Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday visited the ancient Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple here and offered prayers and he was accorded a warm welcome by the people and devotees.
Upon his arrival at the temple, the chief minister was accorded ‘Poorna Kumbam’ temple honours – a traditional reception provided by the priests – and presented with a garland.
Thereafter, he was taken inside the temple by priests and he offered prayers at the shrines of Goddess Meenakshi Amman and Lord Sundareswarar.
The CM also held a roadshow here and people lined up on both sides of the road to welcome him and several of them showered flowers and petals on him and the chief minister reciprocated the gesture.
Acording to a source, the chief minister participated in the Sayaraksha Pooja – an important evening ritual performed daily at the Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareshwar Sannadhis – invoking divine protection.
It may be recalled that the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is contesting the by-election at the Madurantakam and Dharapuram SC reserved Assembly constituencies.
Vijay’s visit to the shrine assumes significance as the temple celebrated its grand Kumbabhishekam on September 17. The temple authorities briefly restricted darshan for devotees in view of the chief minister’s visit. Nevertheless, huge crowds gathered outside the temple to greet him upon his arrival.
The police had a tough time regulating the crowd despite keeping the temple perimeters under tight control due to the massive gathering of the people and TVK supporters who swarmed the roads to get a glimpse of the chief minister.
Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple board of trustees chairperson S Rukmini Palanivel Rajan and other temple officials received the chief minister upon his arrival.
