At least three women devotees and four children reportedly fainted while standing in the queue at Subramanian Swamy Temple in Thirupparankundram, Madurai, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, as the Vaikasi Visakam festival drew massive crowds.
The devotees gathered in large numbers for the annual Vaikasi Visakam celebrations. The shrine, the first among the ‘Aarupadai Veedu’ temples of Lord Muruga, is a preferred destination for devotees from across Tamil Nadu and other States, including Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and several other countries.
With the temperature hovering around 34 degrees Celsius, some women carrying infants expressed uneasiness and discomfort, having arrived at the temple as early as 6 a.m. “Not many of us had anything to eat. We only had a glass of buttermilk served here,” said Pavithra, a devotee from Madurai.
A few women, unable to bear the heat and having stood in a packed queue for over two hours, fainted, causing panic among devotees. “Immediately, women police personnel removed them from the queue and provided water, following which they felt a little better,” a temple trustee told The Hindu.
Devotees expressed displeasure over facility arrangements. A 78-year-old man from Melur asked, “Can’t they provide a separate enclosure for senior citizens? We were not carrying any ‘kaavadi’. We just want to have darshan of the deity on this important occasion.”
Another devotee from Karur said the temple administration permitted vehicles of some “VVIPs,” while many devotees had to trek long distances, as TNSTC buses dropped passengers on the Madurai-Thiruparankundram Road, forcing them to walk at least 1 km to join the queue.
Many NGOs and Hindu outfits, including Hindu Munnani, Hindu Baktha Sabhas, and other trusts, set up shamianas serving prasadam, buttermilk, and water. Former AIADMK minister R.B. Udhayakumar was seen serving prasadam to devotees with his supporters.
Temple administration said it provided basic facilities like potable water and washrooms.
Faith and devotion move millions to endure hardship, but adequate facilities for all devotees, especially elderly and children, remain essential.
Follow Dharmic News for updates on temple festivals and devotee welfare.
