MADURAI: Strict guidelines have been issued by Madurai District Collector M.S.Sangeetha and the food safety authorities here today for those who want to distribute free food items, prasadam, drinking water, butter milk etc to the devotees who throng in large numbers for the coming Chithirai festival 2025 in which the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Kallazhagar’s entry into the Vaigai river in Madurai are important and particularly witnessed by lakhs of people.
The Madurai District Collector has said in a press statement today-April 17th 2025- that proper permission must be obtained from the Madurai District Food Safety Department authorities by paying Rs.100 as fees through online- http://foscos.fssai.gov.in– and register their names if they want to supply the rice, food, prasadam, water etc.
“Food items, prasadam, drinking water, cool drinks, butter milk, sweets etc can be distributed free to the devotees during the Chithirai festival only after getting the food safety department’s permission and registration certificate in Madurai. Quality of food being supplied during this Chithirai festival has to be maintained. Those who want to do ‘annadhanam’ and provide food items etc at the ‘Mandagapadis’ in Madurai on Lord Kallazhagar’s route must get the required food safety department clearance,” the Madurai District Collector M.S.Sangeetha has said today.
Those who want to complain about food safety and food quality during this Chithirai festival period can contact the Tamil Nadu Government’s Food Safety Department whatsapp number 94440-42322 and make their complaints. Those who want to do ‘annadhanam’ and do free supply of food items etc to the Chithirai festival devotees can contact 0452-2640036 and get full information and procedures on how to get the food safety department permission, the Madurai District Collector Ms.M.S.Sangeetha has said in the press statement here today.
The District Collector had also urged the public to put the litter in corporation dustbins and follow all the sanitation and public health guidelines during the Chithirai festival. The annual Chithirai festival commences on April 29th 2025 and the ‘Thirukalyanam’ of Goddess Meenakshi will take place on May 9th 2025. The grand entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai river will be on May 12th 2025.
