Mayiladuthurai, Nov. 6 -- With just 10 days remaining for the famous Kadai Muga Theerthavari festival scheduled for November 16 at Mayiladuthurai's Cauvery Tula Ghat, the absence of water in the river has raised concerns among devotees and residents, as thousands of devotees are expected to visit Mayiladuthurai to take a holy dip in the Cauvery during the Aippasi festival.

As the annual festival features the ceremonial procession of deities from prominent temples, including Mayuranathaswamy, Ayyarappar and Vadhanyeswarar to the Cauvery riverbanks for the sacred Theerthavari, the dry riverbed has cast uncertainty over the traditional religious celebrations.

Social activist Appar Sundaram pointed out that the Cauvery River is currently in...