Madurai, June 22 (UNI) Lakhs of people from across Tamil Nadu took

part in the Lord Muruga devotees conference organised by the Hindu

Munnani and the BJP in the temple town of Madurai on Sunday evening.

Apart from Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who

is the Chief guest, all top BJP leaders from Tamil Nadu, and leaders of

AIADMK, which is now in NDA in the state after reviving the ties with the

saffron party for the upcoming Assembly polls, were in attendance at the

conference.

BJP State President Nainar Nagendran, his predecessor and National

Governing Council member K Annamalai, BJP MLAs, senior functionaries

and office-bearers of all the districts took part in the event, which the BJP

billed purely as a spiritual gathering.

With the key assembly polls in the Tamil Nadu political horizon, the BJP,

which is leading the NDA helmed by the main Opposition AIADMK chose

Madurai as the venue which has now become become the political

hotspot for various political parties, which have launched their political

foray and the ruling DMK recently holding its key General Council meeting

after a gap of 48 years three weeks back.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nainar Nagendran, who is also the BJP

Legislature Party leader, said the conference was being held overcoming

several obstacles.

Without taking any names, he said several forces posed obstacles in a

bid to stall this conference. "But we have overcome all those hindrances

and successfully conducted this event", he added.

Apart from alleged political hurdles, the Conference also faced protests,

got into a legal wrangle and the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court

gave its nod, following which it was held at Amma Thidal, near Vandiyur

Toll Plaza in Madurai this evening.

Ruling out any political significance, the BJP has been maintaining that

it was an event only to spread the message of Lord Muruga.

It has also installed ther replica of the six abodes of Muruga with idols

inside--that was visited by hundreds and thousands of devotees over

the last few days.

Party sources told UNI that it was purely a devotional gathering and there

was no politics in it.

The conference will bring the curtains down on the about week long event

that started with the installation of the replica of the six temples.

The BJP had earlier organised Vel Yatra and also undertook padayatra to

six his abodes, especially in the context of the row that emerged over

Tiruparankundram hills--one of the abodes--to invoke his blessings, in what

was seen as a bid to consolidate the Hindu votes in the state and defeat

the ruling DMK.

Organized by Hindu Munnani and supported by the BJP Tamil Nadu unit,

the conference is drew more than five lakh devotees from across Tamil

Nadu, other parts of India, and abroad.

Mr Nainar Nagendran said “Lord Murugan belongs to all. This is not a

political event. It is a spiritual conference meant to strengthen our religious

and cultural heritage”.

He also emphasised that people should not bring political flags or banners,

and that the focus will be entirely on faith, devotion, and Tamil culture.

Continuous chanting of Kandha Sashti Kavacham (Lord Muruga devotional

song) by about five lakh devotees and special poojas are were also conducted

to mark the occasion.

The police have made elaborate security and announced traffic diversions in

Madurai in view of huge footfall.

According to BJP sources, this conference is part of a larger cultural revival

initiative aimed at protecting and promoting Tamil Hindu traditions, especially

the widespread devotion to Lord Murugan, who is considered the guardian

deity of the Tamil people.

The organizers and BJP leaders have also clarified that religious unity and

devotion are the central themes of this event, not electoral gains or political

narratives.

The conference concluded with a mass prayer for peace, prosperity, and

unity across Tamil Nadu and the nation.

The BJP said "with divine blessings, a grand Muruga Bhakth Sammelan

(conference) was held on the auspicious day during the sacred Sri Visuvavasu

(Tamil calendar) year.

"This spiritual gathering takes place in Madurai, the land that has nurtured and

celebrated the richness of culture and devotion for centuries", the BJP said.

UNI GV 1830