Delay in debris removal at Kapali temple hits devotees

Chennai

The kumbabhishekam (consecration) of the famous temple took place on April 3 but a visit by DTNext on Monday evening showed a huge mound of rubbish heaped at the north-western end of the prakaram, blocking free flow of devotees. The temple has been drawing huge crowds more than usual due to the recent event. The devout are keen to have darshan of the deities within a mandalam (48) days as there is a strong belief that the temple now has a huge treasure of positive energy.

The debris, rubbish and broken bricks, had been heaped there after the demolition of yagashalas where poojas and havans took place before the consecration. The yagashalas had been constructed on the northern side of the temple and after the event, demolished. The rubbish was heaped at one end hampering darshan of the Lord in the temple tower which many prefer. While two weeks is a pretty long time to leave the mound unremoved (granted that it requires a cooling off period for the heated bricks) and the temple has been drawing quite a large number of devotees around this season, the administration did not either think of pouring water and cooling the debris and removing it promptly. On Tuesday, nearly ten feet of the prakaram was blocked by the debris.

A visit on Wednesday morning showed that a JCB and a truck were actively removing the rubbish. By 9 am nearly 40 per cent of the mound was dismantled and  taken away. But the large squarish area near Punnai Vana Nathar  shrine is a scene of semi-demolished, unremoved debris walking over which is impossible. There is just a one-foot passage between the debris and the shrine which is one-way to reach the deities in the shrine.

It is hoped the rubbish as well as the 1000-odd bricks removed from the yagashalas and kept near the mound will be removed in a day or two before the full moon day (Chitra Pournami this time) on Thursday when a huge throng of devotees is expected.

On Tuesday when Pradosham pooja was held in the evening the milling crowds had a horrid time passing through the north prakaram.