Devotees dressed as gods, mythological characters and other figures have begun arriving in large numbers for the annual Dasara festival of Mutharamman temple at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district.
The Soorasamharam (annihilation of demon), the highlight of the festival, will take place on the midnight of Tuesday (October 20). With lakhs of devotees expected to attend the grand event, the town is witnessing a steady influx of pilgrims from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
As part of their religious observance, devotees wear kaappu (a sacred wrist thread) and dress up in various costumes to collect offerings for the god and fulfill their vows. Thousands of devotees and Dasara groups from Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and other districts have begun arriving in Kulasekrapattinam.
The district administration and district police have made elaborate arrangements, including temporary parking spaces, temporary bus stands, diversions for vehicles and comprehensive security measures, for the festival.
With lakhs of devotees expected to participate in the celebrations between Sunday and Wednesday, security has been intensified across the area.
Fifty ‘May I Help You’ centres have been established at various locations to assist devotees, while 10 surveillance towers have been set up to facilitate effective monitoring. More than 300 CCTV cameras and seven mobile cameras have been deployed to monitor crowd movement and maintain security. Automatic Number Recognition Plate cameras have also been installed at three major roads to track vehicular movements.
In addition, aerial surveillance will be carried out using five drone cameras. Five facial recognition cameras have also been installed with photographs of more than 1,000 offenders uploaded to the system. The cameras are designed to identify and track the movements of the listed individuals when they come within their field of view, enabling police to take appropriate action.
The extensive security arrangements also include deployment of over 3,500 police personnel with the aim of ensuring the safety of devotees and facilitating the smooth conduct of the festival.
Published - October 18, 2026 07:39 pm IST