Salem: The world’s tallest Murugan statue was opened for devotees after performing kumbabishekam (consecration) on Wednesday. The Muthumalai Murugan statue was constructed by a trust at Puthiragoundanpalayam near Attur.
The 146-ft statue is taller than the Pathumalai Murugan statue (140 ft height) in Malaysia. The sculptor of this statue is Thiruvarur Thiyagarajan. He had also sculpted the Malaysia Pathumalai statue in 2006. Thousands of devotees thronged the temple on Wednesday for the consecration.
The work on the idol began two years ago by Sri Muthumalai Murugan Trust on the land owned by the trust and was completed recently.
Kumbabishekam was performed at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in which hundreds of devotees from the district and nearby places took part. Flower petals were showered by a helicopter during the consecration. Annadanam was also organised by the trust.
The idol is located along the Salem – Ulundurpet National Highway and devotees parked their vehicles on the national highway and on the service roads leading to traffic congestion. Also, motorists halted their vehicles on the national highway to have a glimpse of the idol that is visible from the road. Vehicles moved at a snail’s pace and normalcy was restored after 2 p.m.