Memorial site for T’malai temple elephant being used as parking lot
Local residents and devotees are upset over the memorial site for a former elephant belonging to Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai being used as a space for parking vehicles.
By : migrator
Update: 2019-01-05 02:29 GMT
Tiruvannamalai
Rukku died on March 21 last year after serving the temple for 23 years. The death of the pachyderm, a favourite with devotees, witnessed children and women shedding tears.
The last rites were undertaken after time was given for all the devotees to pay their final respects to the animal. Rukku was then buried near the temple compound wall abutting Othavadai Street.
Temple authorities initially placed barricades around the burial spot as devotees continued to place garlands on it.
Although the Joint Commissioner of the HR&CE Department, R Gnanasekaran said a memorial pillar estimated to cost Rs 3 lakh would be erected at the site in Rukku’s honour, devotees claim that no steps have been taken in this regard till date.
Further, they registered a complaint with the temple authorities about the site being used as a parking lot for four-wheelers.
The authorities on Friday hurriedly restored the barricades around the burial spot.
However, the status of the memorial pillar is not yet clear. While Gnanasekaran was not available for comment, sources said the temple lacked funds for the project and hence the delay in erecting the pillar.
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