CHENNAI: With the 48-day Athi Varadar festival coming to a close on August 17, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has directed the officials to announce local holiday for three days next week for the schools and colleges in the pilgrim town.
In view of the swelling crowds at the Sri Devaraja Swamy temple in neighbouring Kancheepuram, the CM said local holiday would be declared for three days on August 13,14 and 16, to prevent any disturbances to the school and college students.
Also, the move would facilitate the use of educational institutions' premises for parking of thousands of vehicles heading straight to Kancheepuram town. With August 15 being a national holiday in view of Independence Day, the students would have six days holiday from August 13.
Mr. Palanisamy who reviewed the arrangements for darshan of Athi Varadar, here on Wednesday, also instructed the officials to provide more facilities for the elderly and the disabled, and to engage additional sanitary workers to clean the area.
The staff who are engaged for the special duty would be provided incentives.
Police has been asked to enhance security and the officials told to provide protected drinking water and hygienic food to the pilgrims. Mr. Palaniswami released a book on Athigiri brought out by the HR & CE department in Tamil, Telugu and English, on the occasion.
