AIADMK treasurer Dindigul C. Srinivasan received the 13.5-kg golden armour from a Madurai bank on Monday. The armour, donated in 2014, was taken to the Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar memorial. It was fixed on the freedom fighter’s statue for the upcoming jayanthi and guru puja celebrations held until November 1.

Every year, the 13.5-kg golden armour, donated by the AIADMK in 2014, is taken to Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar memorial and fixed on the statue of the freedom fighter during the jayanthi, guru puja celebrations

Ahead of Muthuramalinga Thevar Jayanthi on October 30, AIADMK treasurer Dindigul C. Srinivasan received the 13.5-kg golden armour from a Bank of India branch in Madurai on Monday.

Every year, the golden armour, donated by the AIADMK, adorns the statue of the freedom fighter at his memorial at Pasumpon village in Ramanatapuram district during the guru puja and birth anniversary celebrations.

While receiving the armour from the bank, Mr. Srinivasan was joined by several prominent AIADMK leaders, including former Ministers Sellur K. Raju and R.B. Udayakumar, and former Madurai Mayor Rajan Chellappa.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Srinivasan said, "In 2014, former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa presented the golden armour for the statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar. The party has continuously protected it. Now, the armour has been received from the bank and handed over to the memorial administrators."

Amid heavy police escort, the golden armour was transported by road to the Thevar memorial at Pasumpon, and fixed on the statue of the freedom fighter. Public can pay their respects to the Thevar statue adorned with the golden armour till November 1.

The 119th birth anniversary (jayanthi) and 64th guru puja festival of Muthuramalinga Thevar are scheduled to be held on October 28, 29, and 30 at Pasumpon.

Till October 1, a silver armour adorned the statue, and the public paid their respects to the statue in the silver armour.

When the golden armour was brought from Madurai on Monday afternoon, memorial custodians Gandhi Meenal Natarajan, Thangavel and Pazhani adorned the statue with it and performed special pujas.

Following this, former Ministers Udhayakumar and Manikandan, MP Dharmar, former MLA Malaysia Pandiyan, and AIADMK district secretary Muniyasamy garlanded the statue and paid their respects.

After all the celebrations get over, the golden armour will be returned to the Madurai bank branch on the morning of November 2. Armed police personnel are providing round-the-clock security to the statue.