Devotees throng "Gandhi Temple," perform special poojas in TN

Erode, Oct 2 (UNI) If floral tributes were paid to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi elsewhere in the state, special poojas and worship were offered for the Father of Nation at a temple built for him in a village in this district of Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi.

Come Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanthi, the ''Gandhi Temple'' at Sentharam Palayam wears a festive look with large number of people from the districts of Erode, Salem, Namakkal and Coimbatore, visiting the temple to offer worship.

As the nation woke up to celebrate the 139th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, ''devotees'' thronged the temple this morning, even as the temple authorities performed special ''abhishekams'' with water brought from river Cauvery.

As part of the birth anniversary celebrations, the Gandhi idol at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, was decorated as many offered abishekams with milk, curd, honey, tender coconut and cereals.

Akin to worship offered to any Goddess Amman temple in the state, people performed special poojas and worship with reverence, cooked Pongal and offered the same to the ''Gandhi God.'' In the temple, ''Gandhi's idol'' is kept as a presiding deity. The Mahatma is accompanied by Lord Shiva and Lord Saneeswaran (Lord of Saturn). After worshipping Gandhi, people also offer worship to Lord Shiva and Lord of Saturn in the temple.

The villagers, who had built the temple in 1997, were offering worship for the past 11 years. They have also built a separate temple for Kasturba Gandhi, wife of Gandhiji in front of the Gandhi temple.

Mr Vaiyapuri, Temple in-charge said they were planning to perform ''Kumbhabishekam'' (consecration) for the temple and appealed to the government to lay proper road to the temple.

He also wanted the government to declare the village as a tourist spot to enable more people to visit the temple.

UNI XR/WS RP HT1604