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4.5.3. Festival

               The Chithirai Festival, which takes place in April or May, is one of the most significant times to

               visit this temple. At this time, a large number of devotees travel from all over the nation to receive
               darshan. Lord Azhagar travels to Madurai at this time to witness the heavenly marriage of Lord

                        Thesis Report V-SPARC VIT
               Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi. There is a colorful procession from Azhagar Kovil to
               Madurai, in which devotees carry Lord Alagar as Sundararajan. He travels 21 km in horse and
               human form from his home to Madurai, where he spends a week touring about 1000 mandapams,

               accepting offerings from various groups, and giving darshan to thousands of people.
               4.6. Existing Infrastructure

               4.6.1. Water supply


               The water required for the temple comes from a natural spring called Nupuragangai

               Theertham  on  the  hill,  but  on  behalf  of  the  temple  administration,  a  well  is

               constructed in a town called Kallandri at a cost of three and a half crore rupees and
               water is brought through a giant pipe.

               4.6.2. Solid Waste Management

               All  the  wastes  and  garbage  are  collected  in  bins  and  transported  by  carts  to  the

               nearest landfill and burnt and destroyed.

               4.6.3. Road Network & Transportation


                                                 • Distance from Periyar Bus stand(Main) – about 23
                                                 kms away

                                                 • Distance from Madurai Airport – about 38 kms away

                                                 • Distance from Madurai railway junction – about 22
                                                 kms away

                                                 • SH - 72A Melur to Azhagar kovil road is connecting

                                                 with the temple’s Main Entrance.
                                                 The place gets more traffic during festival times and

                                                 weekends. Otherwise it has low level of traffic near the


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