Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed a petition, which sought a direction to the state government to declare a public holiday for Thai Pusam festival celebrated on February 10 this year.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M.Sundar dismissed the PIL from A. Annadurai, a social worker. Pointing out that it was for the government to take a decision on such issues, the bench said courts would not venture into these areas.
In his petition, Annadurai submitted that more than 60 lakh devotees throng the six abodes of the Lord Muruga on this day.
The festival of Thai Pusam falling on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Thai on the day of the Pusam star was such a magnificent festival where the vibrant and pomp and majesty of devotion would be evident on an unparalleled
way.
In many parts of the world Lord Muruga's Thai Pusam was a public holiday. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is a public holiday. All important Hindu gods were celebrated by providing holidays.
However, in spite of there being millions of devotees in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Thai Pusam is not a public holiday in Tamil Nadu, which is the origin of the Murugan worship, he added.
