Tourist spots witness heavy rush on Kaanum Pongal in Erode

Thousands of people thronged various tourist destinations across the district on the occasion of Kaanum Pongal on Saturday (January 17, 2026), amid elaborate security arrangements.

Kaanum Pongal, which marks the conclusion of the Pongal festival, is traditionally observed as a day for meeting friends and relatives and visiting places of leisure.

At the Kodiveri anicut, built across River Bhavani near Gobichettipalayam, hundreds of visitors gathered to take a bath and spend time at the adjoining park. With 100 cusecs of water released from the Bhavanisagar Dam into the river, people enjoyed the cascading water flow throughout the day. Visitors also queued up to take coracle rides at the anicut.

Police personnel cautioned visitors to remain careful while moving over slippery rocks. Temporary shops set up within and outside the anicut premises selling snacks, ice creams, food items and fish fry witnessed brisk business. Tourists from various parts of the district and neighbouring districts arrived in large numbers, resulting in a shortage of parking space and traffic congestion on approach roads.

Similarly, large crowds gathered at the park attached to the Bhavanisagar Dam, where families spent the day together. People also thronged the Karanampalayam check dam near Kodumudi, as well as the barrages at Vendipalayam and B.P. Agraharam in the city. To ensure that the celebrations passed off peacefully, over 400 police personnel were deployed at major tourist locations across the district.