After death of devotee, entry to Idukku Pillayar Temple restricted for obese, elderly, and ailing persons
The Idukku Pillayar temple in Tamil Nadu has restricted entry for obese, elderly, and ailing individuals following a fatal cardiac arrest in a narrow passage. The temple has installed physical barriers to ensure only those who can fit through the narrow entrance are permitted to worship.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between maintaining ancient religious traditions and ensuring modern public safety standards at high-traffic pilgrimage sites.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has restricted entry to the Idukku Pillayar temple on the Girivalam path near the Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai for devotees with obesity, those who are unwell, and senior citizens. The action comes after 36-year-old S. Manikumar from Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh died of a cardiac arrest while trying to exit a narrow passage after offering worship at the temple on July 25.
Temple officials said the century-old shrine, located on the 14-km-long Girivalam path, has a narrow passage about one foot wide. Devotees have to negotiate the passage to offer worship at the small temple.
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