Padayatri pilgrims proceeding to Palani near Dindigul on SundaY.
| Photo Credit: G. KARTHIKEYAN
The recent announcement by the Food Safety Department that it is mandatory to get permission to distribute annadhanam has dampened the spirits of padayatris and also organisers of annadhanams.
For long years, the make-shift annadhanam shaminas on the roads leading to Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani in Dindigul district, have been serving food to the famished padayatris who come from various places.
Distributing annadhanam has been seen by numerous organisers and the villagers as a way of showing their devotion. This announcement by the Food Safety Department, has put a spoke in their wheels. Many of the villagers do not even know where to go and get the permission.
Mallika, 30, from Reddiapatti, had been providing idlis to the padayatris for a few years. This year, she is at home not knowing how to go about giving the annadhanam. “No official came here. If they had I would have got permission,” she says.
Balaji, 50, a padayatri from Karaikudi, says, “Last year, I did not spend much money as I was able to get annadhanam at many places en route to the temple. But this year, I am forced to pay and eat at the roadside hotels as there are few annadhanam spots on the way.”
Chelliah, 43, from Madurai, adds that this time, their group arranged for a cook and a van. “We have collected more amount and the cook travels before us and at the designated spot he cooks and keeps the meals ready. This is proving helpful for us as we are seeing less number of annadhanam spots,” he said.
The few annadhanam spots on Natham road, are littered with paper plates and cups as padayatris are forced to converge at these places. Though the administration has employed enough conservancy staff to keep these places clean, due to the sudden piling up of garbage in selected spots, waste clearing has become a slow process. Food safety officials along with giving permission should also join hands with the administration and see that enough garbage bins are placed near these select spots, say residents in the area.
Chellammal from Sanarpatti points out that in some stretches the garbage remains piled up till late in the evening. “Last year annadhanam was being provided in many places, there was less garbage and removal was easy for the workers,” she adds.
Consumer activist Rajesh Kannan says getting permission for annadhanam can be seen as a right move by the administration but the officials should have given time and also should have reached out to the villages on the way. “This decision should have been taken much earlier so that those devotees wanting to give annadhanam would have had time to get permission. The authorities should also monitor the venue where annadhanam is being given to keep the surrounding clean and hygienic,” he says.
Last year, around 12 lakh devotees participated in the festival and this year, according to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P.K. Sekarbabu more devotees were expected.
When adequate arrangements have been made to provide drinking water, toilet facilities, medical assistance and accommodation to the devotees, the officials, should also see that the thousands of padayatris who visit the shrine do not walk on an empty stomach, say activists.
Published – February 09, 2025 08:57 pm IST