Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister Ramesh said Tamil was given prominence during the kumbabishekam of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, with Oduvars rendering Thevaram and Thiruvasagam pathigams from September 11 until the day of the kumbabishekam.

“We invited 24 Oduvars from various parts of Tamil Nadu and they rendered the pathigams,” he told The Hindu, rejecting allegations that Tamil was not given due importance during the celebrations.

Mr. Ramesh said the Oduvars rendered the hymns near the yagasala kundams and were taken to all the gopurams during the kumbabishekam to sing the Thirumurai and other Tamil devotional songs when holy water was sprinkled. “The entire event went well and was appreciated,” he said.