Addressing a press conference here, Thanjavur District Collector N Subbaian said the festival which began on February 13 passed off without any untoward incident.

All the departments, including police, worked in tandem round-the-clock ensuring smooth management of the sea of pilgrims who thronged this temple town and took a holy dip in the sprawling Mahamaham Tank, he said.

While an estimated 23 lakh people took the holy dip in the tank till the seventh day on February 19, the weekend saw a heavy turnout with Sunday alone recording nearly ten lakh pilgrims, officials said.

On the day of the main event of "theerthavari" (holy dip by utsav idols of various Saivite and Vaishnavite temples here) yesterday, around five lakh devotees thronged the tank and also Cauvery river for the bath on the auspicious occasion, they said.

The Collector said the administration had started making the preparations for the festival two years back itself and periodic reviews helped in its successful conduct.

Works at a total cost of Rs 260 crore were implemented for the festival, he added.

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