Chennai: In anticipation of the Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami festivals, shopping streets and major markets across Tamil Nadu were bustling with crowds of people buying पूजा items. More than 1 million people traveled from Chennai to their hometowns.
Across Tamil Nadu, Ayudha Pooja will be celebrated in grand style tomorrow. In connection with this, in all districts of Tamil Nadu, large numbers of people have been gathering over the past two days in the main market areas and shopping streets to buy pooja items. In Chennai, major market areas including Koyambedu, Parry's Corner, T. Nagar, Perambur, Purasawalkam, and Vannarapettai were bustling from early morning.
Especially in view of Ayudha Pooja, a special market is being held in Koyambedu for a week. A separate space has been allotted here to sell pooja items such as puffed rice, peanuts, bananas, leaves, coconuts, and fruits. Sales were brisk here as well.
At the same time, the prices of goods and flowers were higher than usual. One kilogram of jasmine was sold for anywhere from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,500 depending on quality. Similarly, sampangi was sold for Rs. 100 to Rs. 250, jathi malli for up to Rs. 400, and mullai for up to Rs. 250.
Roses were sold at Rs. 110 and jasmine at Rs. 100. Retail traders also bought the items needed for shops. Similarly, many vehicles were lined up at water wash centers and mechanic shops. Crowds also gathered at grocery stores to buy ingredients for making sundal and other items.
Especially in the evening hours, last-minute shopping was brisk. As many traders and members of the public came to buy goods, and as office-goers heading home after work and those traveling to their hometowns for the festival lined up, traffic congestion developed on major roads as well as on the main roads in the suburbs.
Traffic police were additionally deployed and cleared the congestion. Special buses had been arranged by the transport corporation for those who came to bus stations including Koyambedu, Madhavaram, Maraimalai Nagar, and the CMDA Climate Park. Although Ayudha Pooja fell at the beginning of the week, many people planned to travel to their hometowns because it was followed by the continuous holiday of Vijayadashami. As a result, crowds surged everywhere.
Accordingly, over the past 3 days, on the 15th, 16th, and 17th, a total of 10,277 buses, including regular buses and special buses, were operated. Through this, 4.25 lakh people have gone to their hometowns. Those who had booked in advance traveled on the respective buses, while those living in neighboring districts and those who came without prior booking waited for buses and traveled.
More than one lakh people departed for their hometowns in omni buses. Meanwhile, since it rained in various places from yesterday evening, the public faced difficulties in reaching bus and railway stations. In addition, delays occurred due to the increase in vehicles at toll gates.
Meanwhile, following complaints that excessive fares were being charged on omni buses during the festive season, transport officials carried out vehicle inspections across Tamil Nadu. So far, inspections have been conducted on 1,222 omni buses, and fines have been imposed on 207 buses found violating the rules.
Likewise, in view of Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami, many people had booked tickets in advance to travel to their hometowns by train. Special trains had been announced from Chennai to various cities, including Kanniyakumari, Podanur, and from Tambaram to Sengottai. As a result, huge crowds thronged the railway stations, including Chennai Egmore, Central, and Tambaram. The unreserved coaches of the trains were overflowing with an uncontrollable crowd. In this way, more than 4 lakh people traveled on trains departing from Chennai in just the past 3 days.
In addition, many people traveled enthusiastically to celebrate the holiday in their own vehicles such as cars and vans. With the weekend holiday on Saturday and Sunday, followed by Ayudha Pooja on Monday, around 1 million people left for their hometowns. Since there were no tickets available on buses and trains, many are traveling by air. As a result, the crowd at Chennai airport has increased. Accordingly, fares on flights from Chennai to Trichy, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, and to Kerala, Andhra, and Karnataka had been increased.
As a result, crowds surged at the metro stations as well, with people heading to places like Koyambedu, Egmore, Central, the airport, Porur, and Poonamallee to continue on to their hometowns by bus, train, or flight. Normally, around 3 lakh people travel on the Chennai Metro Rail every day, and more than 50,000 use the Vadapalani–Poonamallee route, but both the day before yesterday and yesterday, the metro trains were packed to capacity. Arrangements have also been made to operate additional buses for those returning to Chennai from outside the city.