TIRUVALLUR: The kalasam of the Vijayalakshmi Thayar temple in Tiruttani was stolen reportedly in the wee hours of Thursday, leaving devotees and the temple authorities shocked.
The temple, which is located on the banks of the Nandi River, on the Arumugaswami Temple Street, is under the administration of the Tiruttani Murugan temple. According to police, the kalasam, made of copper, was stolen in the early of Thursday. As the temple authorities were busy with the Independence Day celebrations, none of them noticed the missing kalasam till they were alerted by devotees on Saturday.
Based on a complaint from Pugalenthi, executive officer of the Tiruttani Murugan temple, police registered a case. Last year, seven caskets were stolen from the Arumugaswami, Veerateashvarar and Vinayakar temples. The caskets were later recovered and two arrested.
Meanwhile in Kumbakonam, rains that lashed with strong winds on Saturday night damaged the pedestal of a gold-plated three-and-half feet tall Kalasam on the tower of the Swamimalai Murugan temple.