Chennai, Nov 8 Deepavali was celebrated across Tamil Nadu on Sunday with traditional fervour, even as intermittent rain disrupted festivities in parts of the state.
Sporadic showers disrupted the morning celebrations in Chennai and its suburbs, keeping many residents from bursting crackers outdoors. In Kanyakumari, thousands of tourists who had gathered to watch the special Deepavali sunrise returned disappointed as rain and cloud cover blocked the view.
To curb air and noise pollution, the Tamil Nadu government had permitted firecrackers to be burst only in two one-hour slots, between 6 am and 7 am, and between 7 pm and 8 pm.
Despite the weather and restrictions, the festive mood remained high.
Large crowds thronged meat shops early in the day to buy supplies for the traditional Deepavali feast.
In Chennai, veteran actor Rajinikanth, in keeping with tradition, stepped out to greet a large gathering of fans who had waited outside his residence to exchange festive wishes.
Special prayers were held at major temples across the state. Devotees visited the Vadapalani Murugan Temple in Chennai despite the wet weather. For many, the rain turned out to be an advantage, as it thinned the usual festival crowds and allowed quicker darshans.
In Thoothukudi, devotees braved the rain to offer prayers at the Sankararameswarar Temple.
In Madurai, actor Sivakarthikeyan, accompanied by his wife Aarthi, visited the Meenakshi Amman Temple.
Speaking to reporters, he urged the public to be careful while bursting crackers, especially around children. “Madurai has always been special; I have been visiting the city since I was young. And because my wife, Aarthi, is from here, being a son-in-law of Madurai is a source of great pride and happiness for me,” the actor said.
However, the festival was not without its share of tragedies. One child succumbed to burn injuries, and 269 people were treated for firecracker-related burns across Tamil Nadu during the festivities.
According to official data tracking emergencies over a 24-hour window, the state 108 emergency ambulance network received 16,079 calls between 7 am on November 7 and 7 am on November 8. Of these distress calls, 2,475 were related to accidents, 396 for minor injuries, and 98 specifically for burn injuries.
To manage the load, 1,283 ambulances were deployed. Statewide government hospitals recorded a total of 1,387 inpatient admissions, including 110 for burn cases. Men formed the largest group of victims, with 92 treated as outpatients and 76 admitted as inpatients. Children under 15 were the second most affected demographic, with 48 outpatients and 17 inpatient admissions, while adult women accounted for 19 outpatients and 17 inpatients.
The Thanjavur Government Medical College Hospital recorded the highest patient volume, treating 36 outpatients and admitting 87 inpatients. Other major centres handling the bulk of the emergencies included the Madurai Government Medical College Hospital (six outpatients, 84 inpatients), Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital (85 inpatients), Periyar Nagar Government Hospital (one outpatient, 64 inpatients), and Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital (46 outpatients, 13 inpatients).
Anticipating such mishaps, the state government had earlier issued an advisory urging people to avoid hand-held aerial firecrackers, warning that they could cause severe burns to the head, face, and hands, loss of fingers, and permanent eye damage. The government appealed to people to place firecrackers on the ground, maintain a safe distance, keep a bucket of water nearby, and ensure children burst crackers only under adult supervision.
In their festival messages, prominent leaders and spiritual heads extended their greetings.
Dharmapuram Adheenam pontiff Srilasri Ambalavana Desika Paramacharya Swamigal highlighted the cultural significance of the traditional early morning oil bath, ‘Ganga Snanam’.
Appealing for unity and love, he urged the public to help the poor and rid themselves of the darkness of arrogance
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said the festival symbolised the triumph of good over evil, calling on citizens to contribute to a ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Tamil Nadu’.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay wished the people a joyous festival, appealing to them to celebrate safely.
On the entertainment front, the Deepavali weekend saw Kollywood fans thronging cinemas for major festival releases.
Suriya’s action-comedy ‘Scene’, directed by Jithu Madhavan, emerged as a major crowd-puller at the box office.
It clashed with ‘Mookuthi Amman 2’, which saw actor Nayanthara returning to the titular role in a dual avatar alongside Regina Cassandra. The festive lineup also included the dubbed version of the pan-India epic ‘Ramayana’, adding to the holiday entertainment options for cinema-goers across the state.
(PTI News)
