Pranab cancels visit to Chandiyagam

President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to the venue of Mahachandiyagam at Erravelli in Medak district has been cancelled following the big fire that broke out at the venue on the concluding day of the rituals on Sunday evening. Officials got Pranab's trip cancelled owing to security reasons, it is stated. As the fire broke out, the priests ran helter skelter. Earlier also, they had to leave the yagna kunds (hearths) owing to smoke enveloping the Vedic venue, choking them up. They had to be coaxed to continue with the rituals hours before the final conclusion (Purnahuti). As the fire engulfed the yagashala venue, the personnel of two fire engines stationed there fought the fire and brought it under control. They made short work of putting out the fire as the thatched roof and inflammable material, including articles used in the worship, easily caught fire and were reduced to ashes. Religious pundits got into the act and said the fire was the final culmination by itself, bar the religious nitpicking that may go on. The concluding rituals are already underway for the formal Purnahuti, however.