Dinamalar
CHENNAI, INDIA, August 7, 2006: (HPI note: This translation from the Tamil publication Dinamalar was supplied by Tiru Srinivasan.) The Tamil Nadu government issued the following rules for processions of Vinayaka Deities on the upcoming festival of Vinayaka Chathurthi (or Ganesha Chathurthi): “The procession should not stop before mosques and churches. The procession time should not be delayed so as to stop before the namaz time in mosques. The Vinayaka idols should be taken only on a tractor or a lorry. Persons should not walk behind the idol in procession. Only ten persons can go with the idol in a lorry and only five persons will be allowed if the idol is taken in a tractor. Clay idols alone will be allowed to be taken in the procession. Vinayaka idols made of plaster of Paris will not be allowed. No one should use firecrackers during the procession. None should take with him color powders or fireballs. Loud speakers should not be used. The procession should conform to existing traffic rules and should keep to the left. Musical instruments should not be taken and made use of during the procession. The organizers should issue identity cards to those participating in the procession.”