Security tightened for Vinayaka

Chennai, Aug 26: Security has been tightened in various parts of Tamil Nadu in view of Vinayaka Chathurthi on August 28.

Police told UNI that the heightened security measures that were put in place for Independence Day were continuing.

Patrolling had been intensified and police were maintaining a strict watch in vital installations at market areas, bazaars, bus depots and railway stations.

Police pickets had been posted in all places where various giant sized idols of the elephant God were installed.

The idols of various hues and sizes, depicting the God in a variety of poses, were kept in about 600 places in the city, before immersion in the sea from the places identified by the city police on September three.

A report from Tiruchirapalli said armed police personnel and sleuths of the bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS) had been posted at the entrance to the historic Uchchi Pillaiyar temple atop the 273-feet high Rockfort here and the Manicka Vinayakar temple at the base of the hillock.

According to reports reaching here, security had been increased at Sri Karpaga Vinayakar temple - a famous temple dedicated to the elephant god at Pillayarpatti and other important temples across the state, as a precautionaly measure.

Preparations had begun in the Rockfort temple to celebrate the festival in a grand manner. Hundreds of devotees from varous parts of the state were expected to congregate there.

Temple sources told UNI special abishekams, poojas and 'ganapathi homam' would be performed and a giant 'kozhukkattai', the favourite food of Lord Vinayaka, weighing about 30 kg, would be offered to the presiding deity. Later it would be distributed as 'prasadam' to devotees on Vinayaka Chathurthi day.

UNI