Santhanakoodu Festival 2026: Police Limit Devotees to 50, Causing Tension at Thirupparankundram Hill

Santhanakoodu Festival 2026: On Wednesday night, January 6, in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, a fight between police and worshippers was reported during the Santhanakoodu celebration of Sikandar Badusha Dargah (tomb). According to the news agency IANS, the incident happened at Thirupparankundram Hill when police enforced a High Court order restricting access to the mountaintop to fifty individuals.

Due to delays in ceremonies, devotees who had reached the tomb requested broader access. However, police refused, citing court orders, which sparked disputes and disturbances close to the Dargah.

Members of the temple filed a suit against performing Kandoori during the Santhanakoodu festival earlier on Tuesday, but the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court denied their request for clarity on an interim injunction issued by the court on January 2.

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Every year, more than 1,000 people attend the event; however, Justice S. Srimathy’s bench placed a restriction on the number of attendees to 50.

The Thiruparankundram region was secured by over 600 police officers, including the current force, and there were 50 picketing locations to avoid any undesirable events.