Three women devotees, four children faint in Thirupparankundram temple queue as Vaikasi Visakam draws large crowd

At least three women devotees and four children reportedly fainted while waiting in the queue at the Sri Subramanian Swamy Temple in Thirupparankundram, Madurai, on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

Devotees had gathered in large numbers on the occasion of the annual ‘Vaikasi Visakam’ celebrations. The first among the ‘Aarupadai Veedu’ temples of Lord Muruga, the shrine is a preferred destination for devotees in Tamil Nadu and other states. Devotees from Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and many other countries also attended the festival.

As the temperature was around 34 degrees Celsius, some women carrying babies, who came to the temple as early as 6 in the morning, expressed their uneasiness and discomfort. “Many of us had nothing to eat. Only a glass of buttermilk was served here,” said Pavithra, a devotee from Madurai.

Unable to bear the heat and waiting in the queue for more than two hours, several women fainted, causing panic among devotees. A temple trustee said: “Women police personnel immediately removed them from the queue and provided them with water, after which they felt a little better.” Hindu.

Religious people express their discontent

The temple administration had made detailed arrangements; but some devotees standing at Mela Radha Veedhi expressed their displeasure. “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 day,” said a man who identified himself as 78-year-old Ayyasamy from Melur.

Another devotee, Prashant from Karur, said that while the temple administration had allowed some ‘VVIP’ vehicles, many devotees had to walk a long distance as TNSTC buses dropped passengers on Madurai-Thiruparankundram Road. From there, devotees have to walk at least 1 km to join the queue, he added.

Many NGOs and Hindu communities, including Hindu Munnani, Hindu Baktha Sabhas and other trusts, have set up shamianas and offer prasadam, including buttermilk and water, to visitors. Former AIADMK minister RB Udayakumar was seen serving prasadam to devotees along with his supporters.

Basic amenities like drinking water and toilets are provided, the temple management said.