Cuddalore Padaleeswarar Temple Mahakumbabhishekam held

People witnessing Mahakumbabhishekam at Padaleeswarar temple in Thirupadiripuliyur on Wednesday

CUDDALORE: 

          A large number of devotees drawn from various places descended on Cuddalore to witness the Mahakumbabhishekam performed at renowned Sri Padaleeswarar Temple at Thirupadiripuliyur here on Wednesday.

         The rituals that started at 5 a.m. by savants led by T.K. Balamani Sivachariar of Thirukannangudi culminated in Mahakumbabhishekam at about 9.30 a.m. A music band from Isha Yoga Centre gave an enthralling performance just before the main event that whipped up spiritual fervour among the devotees.The accompanying commentaryover the public address system also riveted the attention of the gathering. A helicopter, hired by a private company, hovered over the temple and showered flower petals on the gopurams to the delight of the gathering.

        As the turnout was so huge, the organisers had requisitioned the services of the fire service personnel to spray the holy water on them through the multi-chute fire tenders at low speed. Many philanthropists and service organizations had put up make-shift stalls to dispense water and buttermilk to the visitors. The entire Cuddalore town wore a festive look on account of the Mahakumbabhishekam and the Republic Day celebrations. The Padaleeswarar Temple Worshippers' Association had also incorporated a new chute to drain the milk poured over the Nandi during Pradhosham time. The Association had also put up many brass stands for placing the lighted earthen lamps so as to prevent any oil spill or stains on the temple walls.

             The Mahakumbabhishekam was performed after a gap of about 14 years at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore and a lion's share of it had come from the members of the Association. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department had spent less than Rs 9 lakh on the renovation of the Raja gopuram. In the evening Thiru Kalyanam was performed and the deities were taken in a procession on silver Rishaba vahanam. The temple is categorised as first grade one with an annual collection from the hundis amounting to Rs 40 lakh, according to HR & CE Department sources.

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Gram sabhas conduct social audit of fair price shops

Collector P. Seetharaman participating in a grama sabha in Cuddalore on Wednesday.

CUDDALORE: 

           Besides discussing the fund allocation for various projects and the progress of the ongoing works, the Gram Sabha meetings convened in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts on Wednesday also conducted social audit on the performance of the fair price shops and the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme.

         The villagers participated in good numbers to get themselves informed of the various works being taken up in their respective places. They also voiced their grievances over the delay in the disbursement of old age pension and financial assistance to the differently-able persons. The Gram Sabha proceedings were monitored by the designated officials who intervened wherever necessary to convince the villagers about arrangements made for the redress of their grievances.

           The Gram Sabhas also acted as the forums for distribution of forms to the villagers for getting a financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 15,000 for carrying out repair works to the cluster houses that were over 10 years old. At Sedarpalayam in Cuddalore district, Collector P.Seetharaman participated in the Gram Sabha meeting. He applauded the villagers for having made the session a lively one by discussing the local issues in an enlightened manner.

             The Collector called upon the villagers to enrol in the rural employment guarantee scheme and earn up to Rs. 100 every day. He cited the instance of the people at Thittakudi where in a large number of villagers had come under the purview of the scheme. He also scrutinised the works to be undertaken in Sedarpalayam for which an amount of Rs. 31 lakh had been earmarked for the current year.

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Is philately losing its charm?

Stamps reflect the socio-cultural ethos of society.

CUDDALORE: 

         Philately seems to be losing ground with the growth of courier services and information technology.

       It is common knowledge that usage of stamps has come down significantly owing to the advent of e-mail, short messaging service and social networking system. The philatelists have voiced concern over the state of affairs because they could not reconcile themselves to the fact that the stamps are gradually losing their coveted position in the sphere of communications. Philatelists collect the stamps and preserve them because they realise the value of every single stamp that acts as a treasure trove of information.

           The stamps reflect the socio-cultural ethos of society, besides giving insight into the demographic history. According to K.Thirumalai, an avid stamp collector, the present generation does not have much exposure to the stamp culture and hence, its significance is lost to them. The very sight of the stamps carrying the images of tall leaders would convey a lot about their struggle and travails in getting Independence and the toils of the scientist in making a breakthrough. The strenuous practices that lie behind one's success and the toil one has to put in for reaching the height of glory are being graphically conveyed through the stamps. In a nutshell the stamps reflect the social ethos of a country.

             Moreover, the stamps act as a motivating factor to the individuals who are aspiring to attain the acme of success. A philatelist's collections are not just outdated stamps but records of the very configuration of the social set-up, Mr Thirumalai says. Superintendent of Post Offices, Cuddalore, V.S. Mani says that the philatelists continue to have un-sagging interest in stamp collection, but he cannot be sure whether their tribe will grow in the coming days.

For the sake of convenience and speedy delivery, franking machines have been put to use.

The stamps could be categorised into two types: 

              commemorative ones and definitive ones.

                 The commemorative stamps have limited editions and would be in circulation for a specified period (until the commemorative event lasts); 

             whereas, the definitive stamps would be reprinted time and again, depending upon the demand. Mr. Mani concurs with the view that there has been a significant fall in the sale of stamps, though he would not quantify it in value terms.

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