Temple Car Stuck In Drain Stops Panguni Festival Procession In Madurai
Festival procession halted after temple car gets stuck in drain.
A temple car procession during the Panguni festival in Madurai was briefly disrupted after one of the chariot’s wheels got stuck in a roadside drain, halting the event for nearly an hour. The incident occurred at the Thiruparankundram Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which was hosting the annual celebrations attended by thousands of devotees.
According to officials, the procession began early in the morning and was moving along its designated route when the rear wheel of the chariot slipped onto a concrete slab covering a stormwater drain. The slab cracked under the heavy weight, causing the wheel to sink and bringing the procession to a standstill.
Initial attempts by temple authorities to move the chariot proved unsuccessful, prompting plans to bring in heavy machinery such as a JCB to assist in lifting it. However, before external help arrived, devotees gathered at the spot and coordinated efforts to resolve the situation.
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Eyewitnesses said devotees chanted religious slogans while working together to free the chariot. Using makeshift supports and iron plates, they managed to lift the wheel out of the damaged section of the drain. With assistance from temple staff, the chariot was eventually pulled back onto stable ground, allowing the procession to resume.
The Panguni festival, held during the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April), is a major religious event that draws large crowds for temple car (ratha) processions, where deities are taken around the temple streets. Such processions are a significant part of Tamil temple traditions, symbolising the deity’s presence among devotees.
No injuries were reported in the incident, and the event continued without further disruption. Authorities are expected to review safety measures along procession routes to prevent similar incidents in future, especially given the large turnout typically seen during such festivals.
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