Vice-President visits Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple in Sivaganga district; lays stone for construction of 140-ft VOC statue in Madurai

Vice-President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan at the ceremony to lay foundation stone for the statue of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram in Madurai on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
R. ASHOK

Vice-President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan visited the famous Sri Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple in Tirukoshtiyur near Tirupathur in Sivaganga district on Sunday.

The Vice President, who arrived in Madurai by a special flight, boarded a helicopter and reached Tirupathur helipad. Sivaganga Collector K. Porkodi, Lok Sabha MP Karti Chidambaram among others received the Vice-President.

Later, he drove to the temple, where the head priests accorded a welcome and he had a darshan. Special pujas were performed on the occasion. BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran, district president Pandithurai and a few others participated in the pujas.

On February 6, ‘samprokshanam’ was performed to the temple and the historic significance of the temple was explained to the Vice-President by the priests.

The Vice-President visited the Sivaganga Palace, where he garlanded the statues of Sasivarna Thevar and Rani Velu Nachiyar.

He was received by the Samasthanam Trustee Madhuranthaki Nachiyar, Mahesh Durai and Senthil Thondaiman and others. After a brief visit, Mr Radhakrishnan left for Madurai.

The Vice President laid the foundation stone for construction of 140-feet tall V.O. Chidambaram statue in Madurai in the presence of Union Minister L. Murugan, New Justice Party Founder A.C. Shanmugam, Mr. Nainar Nagenthran and others.

Later, he boarded the special aircraft from Madurai airport, where he was seen off by Minister KR Periakaruppan, Madurai Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, Commissioner of Police J. Loganathan, Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan and others, officials said.