HINDUS at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road on Friday celebrated the temple's consecration - a ritual performed every 12 years to strengthen the powers of the temple's deities.

The ceremony, or maha kumbabishegam, began in the morning, with many devotees arriving hours before to snag a good viewing spot.

More than 10,000 devotees turned up to attend the event, including President S R Nathan, Senior Minister S. Jayakumar, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Law Minister K. Shanmugam and Mr S. Nallathamby, chief executive of the Hindu Endowments Board.

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