An estimated five lakh devotees offered worship to Lord Ranganatha and Namperumal daily during the Raapathu of Vaikunta Ekadasi festival at Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. According to temple and police sources, a maximum six lakh devotees offered worship on Vaikunda Ekadasi festival. With the Pongal holidays following Vaikunda Ekadasi on January 12, the turnout was larger this year. On Tuesday, a large number of devotees witnessed Nammalwar Moksham ritual. The ritual signifying Moksham (liberation) was performed for an hour from 6 a.m. The idol of Nammazhwar was taken out and was placed at the holy feet of Namperumal, marking the end of the 20-day Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. Namperumal was taken from Tirumamani mandapam and reached the sanctum sanctorum at 10 a.m.
