The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Over 10,000 villagers throng Palani temple

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Monday, Jan 28, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Over 10,000 villagers throng Palani temple

Staff Reporter

PALANI: Even as the 10-day ‘Thai Poosam’ festival was over with float festival (Theppa Ther) on Friday, it would informally come to an end only after the visit of a large number pilgrims from Edapadi and nearby villages in Salem district to the hill temple.

Over 10,000 pilgrims from these villages reached the Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple on Sunday afternoon to stay on the hill overnight, a rare and special privilege offered to them during festival days.

A large procession they took out from Edapadi reached the hill temple around 2 p.m.

They divided into three contingents, each carrying peacock, “paneer” and tender coconut “kaavadis.” Percussion instrumentalists, elephants and artists carrying holy umbrellas accompanied these contingents. They took part in ‘Sayaratchai’ puja, Raja Alankaram, golden rath procession and ‘raakkala’ pujas.

They stayed on the hill throughout the night and would leave for Edapadi the next day. People who brought kaavadis would only walk home, according to pilgrims.

Furthermore, they prepared “panchamritham” on the hill temple and offered to Lord Dhandayuthapaniswamy. A team of devotees reached the temple on Saturday and started the preparations.

They procured two lakh hill bananas, two tonnes of dates, seven quintal of rock candy and 150 litres of honey, besides cardamom powder and ghee, to prepare 15 tonnes of “panchamritham” for abishekam.

The Salem Transport Corporation would operate 50 buses from the temple to Edapadi for their return journey.

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