On the third day of the Brahmotsavams on Monday, the processional deity of Lord Malayappaswamy was paraded in a grand procession on the golden Simha Vahanam.
Thousands of devotees queued-up all along the mada streets to witness the imperial procession. As the procession passed the half-way mark, it started drizzling and the procession was organised under the shade of ‘Ghatatopam’ (a giant-sized umbrella) to protect the idols from the showers.
On the other hand, over 100 teams of artists belonging to various disciplines like dance, kolatam, tappeta gullu and dappu vadhyams comprising more than 1,500 performers entertained the devout despite the rain.
For the second consecutive day in the afternoon, the priests ceremoniously carried out the ‘Snapana Thirumanjanam’ to the deities at the Ranganayakula mandapam inside the hill temple. The deities as is the procedure were seated atop a high golden altar and were given bath with panchamrutam, coconut water and chandanam. Later the authorities also organised unjal seva to the deities at the unjal mandapam outside the main temple complex.
All the pre-dawn rituals but for Suprabhatam were performed in ‘ekantham’ followed by other religious ceremonies.
Later in the night the procession of Muthyapu Pandiri was organised. Lord Malayappa flanked on either side by His two divine consorts and seated atop the pearl-bedecked palanquin was taken out in a grand procession around the sacred shrine.
