Chaos and anger marked the annual Thirukalyanam ceremony at the Meenakshi Amman Temple after several devotees holding valid paid passes were allegedly denied entry, triggering protests and heated arguments with officials.
The event, organised under the supervision of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, saw the issuance of online passes priced at ₹200 and ₹500. According to multiple attendees, thousands of devotees had booked these passes in advance and arrived at the venue as early as 4 AM to witness the ceremonial divine wedding.
However, officials reportedly stopped entry at a certain point, citing that the seating capacity inside the temple premises had already been filled. This left many devotees, despite holding valid tickets, stranded outside for hours.
Several devotees expressed anger and distress over the situation. One devotee stated that they had been waiting since early morning after purchasing a ₹500 ticket but were denied entry, questioning why tickets were sold beyond capacity. The devotee reportedly said that if access was restricted, tickets should have been limited or reserved accordingly, adding that common people were being treated unfairly despite coming with devotion.
Another attendee suggested that the system should have included time-slot-based entry along with tickets to prevent overcrowding. The devotee stated that authorities should fix a specific time window for each ticket and stop issuing passes beyond that limit, pointing out that many had travelled long distances like Chennai to attend the event.
A third devotee called for an immediate halt to such practices, while others highlighted the physical strain caused by prolonged waiting. One attendee stated that their family had booked passes two months in advance but were made to wait for hours even after reaching early. The devotee added that elderly individuals, children, and those with medical conditions such as diabetes and blood pressure issues were forced to stand without adequate arrangements, raising concerns about safety and basic crowd management.
Despite paying 500rs for a ticket, we didn’t get to see the God. But VIPs are freely allowed inside. They claim the capacity is full. Why sell tickets beyond capacity, says the Hindus of TN.
What else to expect from Sanadhan hater DMK govt😤 pic.twitter.com/jTifqmpnXA
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) April 28, 2026
Devotees also criticised the lack of planning, stating that different pricing tiers could have been accompanied by staggered entry timings to manage crowds efficiently. Some attendees described the situation as dehumanising, alleging that people were made to stand outside in large numbers without clarity, despite travelling from various places and taking time off work to attend the religious event.
As tensions escalated, several devotees reportedly engaged in arguments with officials and police personnel deployed at the site. Many demanded refunds for the ticket amounts, stating that they were unable to have darshan despite paying for access.
Devotees criticised the HR&CE department questioning why excess tickets were issued despite clear knowledge of venue capacity. Some attendees argued that if the authorities had limited ticket sales appropriately, many could have chosen to watch the ceremony remotely rather than face inconvenience and disappointment.
Heavy police presence was reported in the area to control the situation as crowds grew restless. The incident has raised fresh concerns over crowd management and ticketing practices during major temple festivals in Tamil Nadu.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
