Devotees start trekking to Vellingiri Andavar Temple

Coimbatore: The first batch of devotees has begun trekking up the Velliangiri Hills ahead of Maha Shivaratri.
Last week, the forest department had granted permission to the devotees to trek the hills and worship the suyambu lingam (self-created Shiva idol). Since the place would be crowded on the day of Maha Shivaratri, many devotees prefer to climb the hills in the runup to the festival.
The trek begins from Poondi temple that is situated at the foothills of Vellingiri Hills in the Boluvampatti forest range. It would take a minimum of five hours to reach the Vellingiri Andavar Temple. The devotees need to trek through a track filled with dirt that runs along seven hills.
District forest officer D Venkatesh said, “Since several thousands of devotees flock to the hill temple on the day of Maha Shivratri, many choose to trek the hills and finish prayers a few days earlier.”
In a bid to keep the forest, animals and trekkers safe, the forest department has given a list of instructions to the devotees.
First and foremost, it has asked the devotees not to carry matchboxes with them during the trek to prevent calamities such as man-made forest fire.
It is to be noted that environmentalists have long been opposed to trekkers carrying with them large fire lamps, since they posed the risk of forest fire. “They also scare away many animals,” said an activist.
District forest officer D Venkatesh said they would search all the devotees for matchboxes. “We have asked them to stick to the walking track. We won’t allow them to take alcohol or cigarettes. While we will allow food, devotees won’t be allowed to carry plastic items to prevent them from damaging the environment.”