Thevar Jayanthi Celebrations At Pasumpon
A 13.5 kg golden armour gifted by late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has been placed on the statue of freedom fighter and spiritual leader Muthuramalinga Thevar at his Pasumpon memorial in Ramanathapuram district.
The ceremonial adornment forms part of celebrations marking Thevar’s 119th birth anniversary and 64th guru puja on Friday, October 30. Devotees and political leaders are visiting the memorial to pay their respects during the annual observances.
Jayalalithaa’s Gold Armour Gift And Annual Tradition
Jayalalithaa presented the pure gold armour, also known as a kavacham, to the Pasumpon memorial in 2014. It was valued at approximately ₹4.5 crore at the time of the gift.
Because of its considerable value, the armour is stored in a designated Bank of India vault in Madurai for most of the year. Ahead of the anniversary celebrations, the AIADMK treasurer and memorial trustees complete the formalities required to retrieve it for ceremonial use.
This year, AIADMK treasurer Dindigul C Srinivasan and hereditary memorial custodian Gandhimeenal Natarajan completed the legal and banking procedures on Monday. Former ministers R B Udhayakumar and Manikandan accompanied the organisers.
Armed Security For Transport And Bank Return
After clearance from the bank’s Anna Nagar main road branch in Madurai, the armour was transported to Pasumpon under multi-tier armed police protection.
Police personnel escorted the vehicle throughout the road journey. On arrival, organisers ceremoniously fitted the armour onto the life-sized statue, marking the beginning of the three-day festival.
According to organisers, it will remain on the statue through the weekend so visitors can pay their respects. It is scheduled to be returned to the bank vault on November 2.
Tributes And Traffic Restrictions In Madurai
Separate anniversary observances took place at the Muthuramalinga Thevar statue at Goripalayam junction in Madurai, where ministers, party functionaries and followers offered floral tributes.
Crowds began gathering early on Friday, with security barricades regulating access around the statue. Traffic restrictions were introduced at the junction, and buses and other vehicles were diverted towards the A V Bridge to manage movement during the celebrations.
