Kulasai Dasara to be held with restrictions: Collector Sandip Nanduri

The festival at Kulasekarapattinam is a renowned one, considered as the only Dasara celebration that is celebrated elaborately, in Tamilnadu after the Mysore festival in the country. Thousands of devotees would visit the temple in all the 10 days of the festival.

Devotees dress themselves up as different avatars of Goddess Kali, as a respect to the local deity in Mutharamman temple and offer their special prayers by performing a holy dance at the temple. On the 10th day, considered as an eventful day, Soorasamharam would be conducted. All through the festival days, the devotees would dress up as Goddess Kali and would collect alms from every household in the villages nearby.

Considering the pandemic situation and since this upcoming Dasara is expected to attract a large number of people from nearby districts of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, the district administration has come up with restrictions to be followed during the 10 day event.

Accordingly, Thoothukadi collector Sandip Nanduri has released the SOPs.

1: Not more than 8000 people will be allowed for swami dharshan in the temple

2: The flag hoisting ceremony and the Soorasamharam event will not be open to the general public. Meanwhile, the Soorasamharam that usually is held in the Kulasai beach, will now be held in the Parihara Mandapam inside the temple premises.

3: Devotees can reserve their darshan tickets online or by visiting the temple in-person

4: Devotees who go around the village for alms are not allowed to visit nearby villages

5: One representative from each village administration will be allowed to be present during the flag hoist ceremony and get the 'Kaapu' for their respective villages.

6: Devotees are not allowed to stay inside the temple premises.

Sandip Nanduri further said that nearly 1500 police personnel will be engaged for security and the 10-day Dasara will end on 22nd October.