Members from various service organizations across Coimbatore, collectively filed a petition with the district Collector recently to declare holiday Koniamman Temple car festival which is set to happen on March 6.

Koniamman temple is one of the important historical sites in Coimbatore. It is in Townhall area, strategically placed in the centre of the city. The car festival (therthiruvizha) attracts crowd from all over Coimbatore and also from nearby villages, every year in February –March.

S.Shanmugam, Head of SS Makkal Sevai Iyakkam told the Covai Post that school and college students, private employees, government officials and even local politicians participate in this festival every year. It would be a relief to everybody if the local authority declared a holiday on this day, he added.

R. Bhakthavachalam, a traffic constable told us that “Approximately fifty thousand people gather in Townhall to attend this event. The traffic comes to a stand-still, when the car of the deity is pulled from the Thermutti juncture to Koniamman temple by the devotees.

This poses hardship to the office and school/college goers from the nearby localities and vehicles crossing this region at that time. There is a high risk of accidents and road-rage at this time. It would ease our pressure if the local government declares a holiday for this festival”, he added.