The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Devotees witness Lord Kallazhagar's entry into Vaigai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Devotees witness Lord Kallazhagar's entry into Vaigai

Staff Reporter

MADURAI: A sea of humanity descended on the banks and riverbed of the Vaigai to witness the entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the river, the salient feature of Chithirai festival, on Sunday. Amid the chanting of `Govinda Govinda' the Lord, mounted on golden horse palanquin, entered the river.

Earlier, before Lord Kallazhagar proceeded from the Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple at Tallakulam, where he made an overnight halt, He was adorned with the garland brought from Sri Andal Temple in Srivilliputtur. Devotees made a beeline in the temple for having His darshan throughout the night.

Lord Kallazhagar who came in a huge procession was greeted by Lord Veeraraghava Perumal, around 7.15 a.m. Even as special pujas were performed in a huge pandal erected on the riverbed, devotees who thronged both the banks and the riverbed also conducted `deeparathana' from wherever they were standing. They also distributed sweets.

Dressed in the traditional attire of Lord Kallazhagar, devotees sprinkled water on the Lord and fellow devotees, using indigenously-made sprinklers. After a hour of rituals, he left for Ramarayar Mandapam, before going to Vandiyur Mariamman Temple.

The boisterous flow in the river and the partially overcast sky set up an ideal setting for the devotees to wait for longer hours in the open.

The devotees also enjoyed bathing in the river, as Vaigai was flowing during the Chithirai festival after two years.

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