A fresh controversy has erupted at the Thiruparankundram Subramaniya Swamy Temple after the noon closure schedule was reportedly altered to facilitate the darshan of Minister Nirmal Kumar.
The minister, who arrived in Madurai from Chennai on Thursday, attended multiple events in the Thiruparankundram constituency before visiting the temple around 12.55 pm. Party workers welcomed him outside the temple, and temple officials accorded him ceremonial honours.
According to the usual practice, the temple’s noon pooja begins at 12.30 pm and the main doors under the Rajagopuram are shut at 12.45 pm, after which devotees are not allowed inside. Even on crowded days and wedding days, entry is typically stopped after 12.45 pm, with exceptions generally made only during festival periods.
However, the minister reportedly entered the temple around 1.00 pm, completed darshan at the sanctum with more than 50 supporters, and exited around 1.15 pm. Only after his departure was the temple closed, and he was also allowed to leave through a front entrance after a large door was opened.
A video of the minister’s darshan circulated widely on social media, triggering strong dissatisfaction among devotees over what they viewed as preferential treatment.
