Seven people sustained serious injuries when a 60-foot temple chariot overturned during the annual Mayana Kollai festival in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. The incident occurred along the banks of the Palar River around midnight as the chariot was being moved from the riverbed to the roadway after the traditional procession.

Chariot Overturns, Trapping Devotees

The chariot, originating from Kazhinjur near Katpadi, reportedly lost balance while being transported, causing it to tilt and trap around ten people underneath. Local police and residents quickly responded to the scene, rescuing those caught beneath the massive structure. The seriously injured were rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital in Adukkamparai for treatment.

Officials Visit Site, Orders Investigation

Key district officials, including District Collector Subbulakshmi, Superintendent of Police Sivaraman, and Revenue Divisional Officer Senthil Kumar, visited the accident site and the hospital. The Collector spoke with the injured and issued orders for a detailed investigation into the incident. Festival organizers were directed to implement enhanced safety measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Mayana Kollai Festival

The Mayana Kollai festival is an important cultural and religious celebration in Vellore, attracting devotees from surrounding villages. The festivities involve decorating deities from ten local villages, placing them on temple chariots, and conducting a procession to the riverbank, where devotees perform traditional rituals and offerings. The chariot plays a central role in these ceremonial activities.

Chariot Height and Safety Concerns

Temple regulations stipulate that chariots should not exceed 12 feet in height. However, the chariots used in the Mayana Kollai festival, particularly from Virudhambattu, Kazhinjur, and Mottur, reportedly reach around 60 feet, posing significant safety risks. Villagers from Kazhinjur managed to recover only the idol from the overturned chariot and returned it safely to their village.

Previous Incidents Raise Alarm

This is not the first time such an accident has occurred during the festival. In 2023, a chariot from Mottur village had similarly toppled into the Palar riverbed. Authorities are actively examining both incidents to enhance safety protocols, including reviewing chariot construction standards, procession management, and crowd control measures for future celebrations.

The community has expressed concern over the recurring accidents, emphasizing the need for stricter adherence to safety norms. Authorities are expected to review the construction and handling of festival chariots, ensuring that future Mayana Kollai celebrations do not pose risks to devotees or participants. The district administration has also highlighted the importance of training volunteers and festival workers to manage large ceremonial structures safely.

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