Preparations on for temple festival

Arrangements are being made for the celebration of "Kannagi festival" on the auspicious Chitra Pournami day (full moon day in the month of Chitra) on May14 at the Mangala Devi temple located in the Periyar Tiger Reserve area in Kerala.
Officials said here today pilgrims would not be allowed to carry any plastic items to the shrine
The temple, on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, had been constructed in memory of Kannagi, who, according to legend, burnt Madurai City where her innocent husband, Kovalan, was executed by the Pandiya king. She landed at a spot in Cheran kingdom (now Kerala) where her husband came in a chariot and took her to heaven.

Forest guards would be posted at important places to provide security for pilgrims, a release said, adding officials of Theni and Idduki district in Kerala respectively are making all arrangements for smooth conduct of the festival.