CHENNAI, INDIA, September 27, 2003: The central government is studying the possibility of promoting the small temple town of Thirunallar, where there is a shrine of Lord Saneeswarar (Saturn), as a heritage site. Minister for Tourism and Culture Jagmohan will visit Karaikal, the small enclave near the union territory of Pondicherry on the Bay of Bengal, to assess the site in October. Pondicherry’s Education and Tourism Minister, Kv. Lakshminarayanan, told a press conference Friday evening that a high-level committee of the territory’s tourism department has urged the central government to provide US$2,000,000 to Pondicherry to help promote Thirunallar. Hindus from all over the world visit the shrine during Sani Peyarchi, an astrological event when Saturn moves from one planetary position to another every two and a half years. “Not less than 200,000 pilgrims visit the temple every Saturday and a Yatri Niwas (pilgrims’ hostel) and other facilities are necessary,” the minister said.
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