By SHEFA RAFI
In a bid to promote peaceful coexistence among different faiths, Athar Jamaat office bearers took up the novel initiative of distributing water bottles to devotees during the Koniamman temple car fest conducted annually. As such, they had set up a make-shift enclosure in front of the big mosque at Oppanakkara street and distributed water bottles to devotees.
Truly, this initiative by Muslims paved way for communal harmony among different communities. About 10,000 water bottles were distributed by the Athar Jamat management.
Meanwhile, Muslims distributed food packets near Selvapuram to Koniamman temple car fest devotees. Devotees from different parts and neighbouring district converged at the main thoroughfare and painted the city red as the temple car started its journey from Raja street (Thermutti) and waded thru’ Chetty street, Vysial street to reach Oppanakkara street. It was sea of humanity at the Koniamman temple car festival as devotees vied with one another to pull the temple car. Earlier, special pujas were performed by temple priests.
Elaborate bandobust was made by the city police commissioner Sumit Saran under the supervision of DCP (L&O) Dr L Balaji Saravanan. And traffic on Vysial street, Raja street and Oppanakkara street was diverted following temple car fest. Joyous moments was witnessed all along the car fest route even when the devotees worshipped the Goddess Koniamman.
Koniamman temple situated in the heart of Coimbatore city on Big Bazar streetbatore Town, in the Big Bazaar Street and people have a faith that Mother Koniamman fulfils the wishes of Her devotees including marriage proposals, getting child, curing diseases ensuring development in business enterprise. Interestingly, people cutting across communal lines visit the temple during important festivals.
Notably, Koniamman temple has Neem, Vilwa, Nagalingam and Arasamaram as holy trees inside the premises. This is the only temple Oonjal festival is celebrated during the 30 days of Aadi month-July-August. Koniamman temple car fest is one of the important event in Coimbatore wherein people from different faiths converge at the car route starting from Thermutti to Chetty street, Vysial street and Oppanakkara street.
