AIADMK cadres seek 'divine intervention' for J Jayalalithaa's release

CHENNAI: Even as the Supreme Court is set to hear the bail plea of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa on October 17, party cadres are seeking divine intervention for her early release by thronging places of worship and offering special prayers.

For the 17th day today, after the jailing of Jayalalithaa by a Bangalore court on September 27 in a graft case, AIADMK workers continued their special prayers across Tamil Nadu.

Partymen have been tonsuring their heads, carrying milk pots and organising 'Thiru Vilakku', poojas and yagnas to pray for their "Amma's" release.

The 'Thiru Vilakku' pooja involves a large number of women coming together and worshipping Goddess Amman by lighting hundreds of lamps.

Prayers were also held in all prominent places of worship in the state, including the 'Aaru Padai Veedu' (six sacred abodes of Lord Muruga), the Sri Arunachaleshwara temple, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple and Kanyakumari Bhagavathy Amman temple.

About 10,000 women party workers carried milk pots, a special form of prayer, to Sri Bala Dhandayuthapani temple in Madurai. Many male workers pierced "vel" (a trishul like spear) in their cheeks to propitiate the God.

Special prayers were held at Kattubava and Umar Shaw Dargahs. Candle light processions were taken out to churches, including the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health Velankanni and Holy Rayappar and Chinnappar.

Yagnas like a "Maha Sudarsana Yagna" were held at temples including the Nilakottai Sri Narasimha.

A "108 Sangabisheka" prayer was organised at Vadacheri Sri Siva temple in Kanyakumari. Party workers pulled the golden chariot at the Kollangudi Sri Vettudayal Kali Amman temple.

After Chief Minister O Panneerselvam made a specific appeal to AIADMK cadres to eschew all forms of protest, party workers have now fully taken "the path of devotion", praying for an early release of their leader.