பங்குனி உத்திரம்

REQUEST TO DEVOTEES

Dear Devotee

PANGUNI UTHIRAM FESTIVAL 2008

The Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar Temple has been celebrating the Panguni Uthiram Festival since 1967. From its humble beginning of six pal kavadis, it has grown to a festival of 196 alagu kavadis, 130 pal kavadis, 1562 pal kudams in 2004. It is heartening to see the number of kavadis increasing from year to year. An event of this magnitude is complex and difficult to organise without the understanding and cooperation of the devotees and various Local Authorities.

It was noted from previous events, a handful of devotees were responsible for the delays. These devotees primarily failed to observe the timings and conditions given on the registration chits. Whilst various reasons were given by the devotees for the delays, these were unfortunately not acceptable to the Authorities. They felt that generally it was within the control of the devotee and the Temple could, or should have shut them out. As a result, this has caused a great deal of embarrassment and inconvenience to the Temple and organisers of the event with the Local Authorities.

For your information, the Police Permit is issued under certain terms and conditions, which in a nutshell ensures that Law and Order is maintained and the surrounding communities and neighbourhood enjoy its peace and tranquility.

As organisers of the event, we are required to ensure that these terms and conditions are observed without fail, or risk losing the security deposit or subjected to further even more restrictive conditions. As devotees and kavadi bearers and in the best interest of our Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar and ourselves, we should comply and observe these terms and conditions for the continued success of this festival.

For your continued cooperation, please be informed of the following registration timings and dates.

Registration: START 5 March 2008

END 21 March 2008 (1pm)

All kavadis must reach the designated Assembly Area by 4.30 p.m. Kavadis must leave the Assembly Area by 7.00 p.m. Chariot kavadis and Arigandam kavadis must leave the Assembly Area by 3.00 p.m.

We most humbly request you to kindly observe the terms and conditions and timings given for the kavadi procession at the point of registration.

We look forward to your long-lasting continued support and cooperation and let’s join together to make this another successful Panguni Uthiram Festival for Our Beloved Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar.

President

The Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar Temple TOP

RULES

For the Panguni Uthiram Festival 2008, the Management Committee has taken the following action to reduce the congestion and late arrival of the Alagu Kavadis to the temple:

a) All Alagu Kavadi carriers will pay $120/-for their receipts. However, Alagu Kavadi carriers that leave the designated Assembly Place to the temple before 7.00 p.m on 21.03.2008 will get a refund of $60/.

b) The receipts of the Alagu Kavadis will be stamped by a Temple Official at the Assembly Place to indicate that the Alagu Kavadis have left the Assembly Place by 7.00pm. The stamped Alagu Kavadi receipts must be retained by the devotees.

c) The Alagu Kavadi carriers must produce the officially stamped Alagu Kavadi receipts to collect the refund of $60/ from the Temple Cashier. Refunds will be made from (06 April 2008) (Time - 8am to 9pm.)

These arrangements have been made to smoothen the devotional journey to the temple by the Alagu Kavadi carriers. We want to encourage Kavadi Carriers to start early and complete their offerings in time.

Every year some Alagu Kavadi carriers delay their departures from the Assembly Point and take too much time to complete their journey. This has caused congestion and confusion and has given both the Police and the Management Committee additional problems. Last year, the final Alagu Kavadi reached our temple at 1.30 in the morning! We cannot allow this breach of police conditions to happen again. Please co-operate with us to make this Panguni Uthiram festival a successful one.

May the blessings of Sri Balasubramaniar be with you and your loved ones forever. TOP

TEMPLE MANAGEMENT