DINDIGUL, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, March 25, 2007: The huge 10-day Panguni Uthiram festival will commence at the famed Palani Hills Murugan Temple with flag hoisting between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on March 26. The car procession will start from Padha Vinayagar Temple at Malai Adivaram at 4:00 pm on April 1. The temple administration has made elaborate arrangements for the festival. Cultural programs have been arranged at Kudamuzhukku Mandapam near Malai Adivaram during the festival days. Lord Murugan will be taken in a procession on Giri Veedhis in the evening on all festival days. Eminent speakers will render religious discourses and artistes and carnatic vocalists will sing devotional songs; the emphasis will be on folk music. The cultural programs will commence at 5.30 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. and the Nadai of the hill temple will open at 4 a.m. during the festival period.
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Division-IV) has planned to operate additional bus services to the temple town from Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Tiruchi, Karur and Erode districts. A temporary bus stand will be set up on the Dindigul-Palani highway for the convenience of pilgrims. Additional staff and wireless sets will be provided to assist passengers and for smooth operation of buses. Security would be beefed up in the hill temple, bus stand, Padhavinayagar Temple, winch station, rope car station and other places of public gathering, according to police officials.