Maha Shivratri: Publication of guidelines to be followed in temples under Charities Department
On the occasion of Maha Shivratri, special pujas and various events are going to be held tomorrow in 330 temples under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, especially it has been decided and announced that festival will be held in 5 major temples with artistic performances.Instructions for this have been published.
All the 330 temples under the management of the Hindu Religious Endowments Department will conduct pujas and various programs throughout the night tomorrow. In particular, 5 temples namely Mylapore, Arulmiku Kabaleeswarar Temple, Coimbatore, Perur, Arulmiku Bhattiswara Swamy Temple, Tirunelveli, Arulmiku Nellayapar Temple, Thanjavur, Arulmiku Pragatheeswarar Temple Tiruvannamalai, Arulmiku Arunachaleswarar Temple are being held as Maha Shivratri festival. Various programs have been organized on this occasion.
In this situation, the Department of Hindu Religious Charities has published the procedures to be followed in temples in Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. Accordingly the Subordinate Officers are directed to follow the following instructions.
On the occasion of the Maha Shivratri festival from the evening of the 18th to the morning of the 19th, in all the temples under the Hindu Religious Charities Department, traditional artistic, cultural and spiritual religious programs should be held for the enjoyment of the devotees who come to worship Shiva in order to proclaim the glory of Lord Shiva’s grace and power.
Gopurams, walls, etc. in temples where Maha Shivratra is celebrated should be equipped with electrical decorations with proper security arrangements.
All the basic and safety facilities like police protection, medical camps, toilet, sanitary facility, drinking water facility, fire department vehicle parking at necessary places should be provided so that the devotees can have Shiva darshan without difficulty.
Coordination meetings should be held with the officers of various departments and all steps should be taken to hold the Maha Shivratri festival with the cooperation of the officers.
Arrangements should be made in the Maha Shivratri festival for the benefit of the devotees and sevarthis throughout the night of Maha Shivratri such as Mangala Music, Devara Tirumuna Application, Devotional Discourses, Tamil Devotional Music, Dance Drama, Bharatanatyam, Villisai, Rural Devotional Music Songs. The above programs should be conducted with sponsors according to the financial capacity of the respective temples.
While selecting artistes for art programs, preference should be given to artists from their respective regions.
Maha Shivratri programs should be conducted following the guidelines of the government regarding the corona virus infection.
Necessary facilities should be provided for the devotees and sevarthis,adiyars participating in the programs held during the Maha Shivratra festival. Programs should be conducted in such a way that there is no room for any kind of complaints.
It has been said that a separate space should be reserved for the vehicles brought by devotees and sevarthis, adiyars and an announcement should be made through loudspeaker.