Coimbatore: After a gap of nearly 32 years, the historic Chithirai Ther Festival at the centuries-old Kottai Sangameswar Temple in Ukkadam, Coimbatore, will be held regularly from this year onwards. This decision comes following a directive from the Honourable First Bench of the Madras High Court, which ordered the Tamil Nadu government to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual temple chariot festival.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice KR Sriram and Justice Mohammed Shafiq issued the order, emphasising that the festival should be held annually without any interruptions. The court also directed the District Administration to grant necessary permissions and provide adequate police protection for the event.
Recording the submissions made by the respective counsels, the court ruled that the Thai Ther Chariot Festival, which was successfully conducted on February 11, 2025, should be followed by the Chithirai Ther Festival scheduled for May 10, 2025. The court also instructed authorities to ensure that the festival continues every year without hindrance.
The decision is significant, given the temple’s sensitive location and historical challenges in conducting the festival. The temple, believed to be thousands of years old, was the site of a car bomb blast on October 23, 2022. Though initially dismissed by Tamil Nadu police as an LPG cylinder explosion, subsequent investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed a terror angle, leading to the arrest of over a dozen suspects. The main accused, Jameesha Mubeen, died in the explosion, which occurred earlier than planned.
Festival Disruptions Since 1993
The temple’s car festival was conducted regularly until 1992, after which it was halted due to necessary repairs to the temple car. From 1993 to 2010, the Chithirai Ther festival and temple car procession did not take place. In 2010, a new wooden chariot was commissioned, and permission was sought to revive the festival. However, police denied permission at the last minute.
From 2011 to 2020, only the Thai Poosam car festival was allowed with cooperation from the district administration and police, while the Chithirai Ther festival remained suspended due to security concerns.
Advocate B Jagannath, representing the petitioner, argued that the Chithirai Ther Chariot Festival should be held continuously from this year onwards under the administration of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. He pointed out that after filing a writ petition in January 2025, the Thai Poosam Ther Chariot Festival was successfully conducted on February 11, 2025.
The petitioner had previously obtained various RTI replies and pursued the HR&CE Department for the festival’s resumption. His efforts included submitting representations to the HR&CE Department and local authorities in 2024, urging them to conduct the festival.
Jagannath stated that based on police RTI responses, the Chithirai Ther festival had not taken place since 1993. With the Thai Ther Chariot Festival successfully held this year, he argued that no further obstacles should prevent the Chithrai Ther Festival from taking place as per the temple’s traditional calendar.
Government’s Position and Security Considerations
Special Government Pleader (SGP) NRR Arun Natrajan, representing the HR&CE Department, confirmed that the department was willing to conduct the Chithirai Ther Festival this year. He highlighted that the Executive Officer had submitted a formal request to the District Collector on March 11, 2025, seeking permission for the event, and expressed optimism that it would be granted.
Government Pleader Edwin Prabhakar, representing the District Administration, assured the court that permission would be granted, albeit with necessary security measures due to the area’s past incidents of communal violence and bomb blasts. He stated that police guidelines and security conditions similar to those imposed for the February 11, 2025, Thai Ther Chariot Festival would be maintained.
However, the SGP contested the petitioner’s claim that the festival had been absent for 32 years. He argued that the festival was not conducted in recent years due to various reasons, including COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, temple renovations (Thirupani) in 2021, and the Kumbabishekam ceremony in January 2024. He further cited the 48-day Mandala Pooja and general elections as reasons for the festival’s non-occurrence in 2024.
Court’s Final Verdict
After considering all submissions, the Honourable First Bench of the Madras High Court issued clear directives:
- The Thai Ther Chariot Festival and Chithirai Ther Chariot Festival shall be performed annually without interruption.
- The District Administration shall ensure that permission is granted for conducting the festival.
- Adequate police protection shall be provided to maintain law and order.
- Security measures similar to those implemented for the Thai Ther Chariot Festival shall be followed.
With this verdict, the long-awaited resumption of the Chithirai Ther Chariot Festival is set to become a reality, bringing joy to thousands of devotees who have eagerly awaited the revival of this significant tradition.
