PUDUCHERRY: The famous Sri Manakula Vinayagar temple is being spruced up ahead of the ‘kumbhabisekham’ scheduled for January next year.
The main work would be undertaken in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, built prior to the 15th century AD.
Some work would be undertaken on the temple architecture and on the residences of the priests behind the temple.
The major thrust would be on extending the space available on the temple premises, as during festivals, the area gets congested, making it difficult for devotees to move around, said V Ramachandran, president of the temple administration.
Presently, work is on in an area of 4,000 square feet. The facade behind the temple is also being improvised upon in a new architectural style. The houses of the priests are also being given a facelift with the addition of five new flats. The entire work has been taken up at an estimated cost of `6 crore to be used from the temple earnings and donations from devotees.
Once the work is completed, the ‘kumbhabishekam’ would be performed in January, he said.
The last consecration ceremony was held 13 years ago. The temple is one of the major tourist attractions and also the local devotees throng the place of worship. Chief Minister N Rangasamy inspected the ongoing work in the temple on Thursday.