Guv bats for permanent setup of 6 Murugan abodes together

Madurai: Lord Murugan represents the essence of Tamil culture, Bharat, and Bhartiya identity, Governor R N Ravi said on Saturday after visiting the venue of the Murugan devotees conference (Muruga Bakthargal Manadu) in Madurai, a day ahead of the main event organised by Hindu Munnani.

The governor arrived around 11am after a yoga day event and offered prayers at the prototypes of the six abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan, recreated for the conference. "Murugan is our supreme lord who reflects the culture of Tamil Nadu. He is not just our god, but also our identity. As the son of Lord Shiva, whom we revere as the god of completeness and divinity across India, Murugan embodies Tamil values and culture," he told reporters after the visit.

The governor praised the organisers, particularly Hindu Munnani, for assembling replicas of all six sacred abodes, traditionally spread across Tamil Nadu, at a single venue. "I have visited each of the Arupadai Veedu individually, but seeing them all together in one place is a divine experience. This is a long-held dream come true for many, and such a concept should be considered for a permanent setup in the future," he added.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) president G K Vasan said after visiting the site that the devotees' conference will trigger a positive change in Tamil Nadu and ‘pave the way for good people to serve society.' Later in the evening, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthiran and Maharashtra governor C P Radhakrishnan visited the Arupadai Veedu exhibit and offered prayers.

In Coimbatore, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami extended his wishes. "In a democracy, everyone has the right to worship the deity of their choice. Based on that, an organisation is conducting the Murugan conference in a grand manner. I extend my best wishes for the conference," he told reporters. TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai said BJP cannot deceive the people through Murugan conference, asserting that Tamils are conscious of the true intentions of the party that pursues ‘anti-democratic electoral practices, language and economic policies.'