The Kanda Sashti festival at Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple commenced with traditional fervour on 13 November 2023. Devotees have been thronging the second Arupadai Veedu (the 2nd of the 6 holy abodes of Lord Murugan) to participate in the festival.
However, several media outlets including Polimer, Jaya News, Dinamalar, Hindustan Times, Minnambalam reported that the darshan fares were increased exorbitantly leaving the devotees in shock.
The reports claimed that the Abhishekam Darshan fee, which stood at ₹500 per person (on normal days) and ₹2000 per person (on auspicious days), has seen a steep rise to ₹3000. Similarly, the Vishwarupa Darshan fee, typically at ₹100, has been elevated to ₹2000, and the Quick Darshan fee surged from ₹100 to ₹1000, noted media reports.
However, a report by The Hindu quoted a Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department officials saying that a government order (GO) was passed in 2017 for upward revision of ticket rates.
The Joint Commissioner of the Lord Subramaniya Swami Temple in Tiruchendur, Karthik, claimed that in 2017, the government issued an order to raise ticket rates during the ‘kanda sashsti’ celebrations. He added that the practice of selling a special darshan ticket for ₹100 along with a ₹1,000 ticket has been in place since 2017. He further said that “certain elements”, with the intention of harming the image of the HR&CE Department, are making baseless allegations, wrongly asserting that the ticket rates were increased only recently. He emphasized that the increased ticket rate has been in effect since 2017.
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