Thousands of devotees witnessed Thai Poosam car procession of Sri Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple held at Periyanayaki Amman Temple here on Thursday evening.
In the early hours of the day, the idols of the God and the Goddess were brought to Shanmuga River for a holy dip.
Amid chanting of hymns, the idols of Lord Muthukumaraswamy and Goddesses Valli and Deivanai were given a ritualistic bath in the river and taken back to the temple.
Then, special pujas were conducted.
After special pujas, the aesthetically decorated idols were mounted on the car at an auspicious time at noon. Special pujas and aradhanas were also performed to the deities in the car. Initially, priests performed pujas to Lord Vinayagar and to Veerabahu.
Later, they performed pujas and aradhanas to the temple car and the ‘utsavamurthis’ in the temple car. Devotees started thronging the Periyanayaki Amman Temple.
With “Arohara” renting the air, devotees drew the holy car along the four Car streets. As the temple elephant has gone to the rejuvenation camp for elephants, the temple administration roped in NCC cadets, volunteers and temple staff to pull the holy car from its base. Devotees too pulled the holy car. Butter milk, water and free food were offered to pilgrims on the four streets and on the road leading to the hill temple.
The celestial wedding took place in the temple on Wednesday evening. The 10-day festival would conclude with the float festival on Sunday.
Collector T.G. Vinay and HR &CE Department Joint Commissioner P. Rajamanickam, SP Shekar Deshmuk and other officials pulled the car. Crowd was heavy in the afternoon and evening on the hill temple. Pilgrims were waiting in long queues for darshan. Tight security was provided at the Periyanayaki Amman Temple, hill temple, Sri Padhavainayar Temple and places of public congregation in the town.
More than 200 buses were operated to the temple town from various places to transport pilgrims. Southern railway too operated special trains for the convenience of pilgrims.
