A large number of devotees offered mangoes to Sri Bikshadanar – Lord Siva, on the occasion of Mangani festival organised under the auspices of Sri Kailasanathaswamy – Sri Nithyakalyana Perumal temple Devasthanam here on Sunday.
The three-day festival commenced with Sri Vigneswara pujai on June 17 and was followed by celestial wedding for Punithavathi (Sri Karaikal Ammaiyar) on Saturday.
Yesterday's ritual is associated with Lord Siva – the idol of Sri Bikshadanar in a seated posture in ‘padmasanam’ being taken out in a procession, when the devotees offered the fruit in fulfilment of their vows.
Devotees standing on the first or second floors of their houses or commercial buildings threw the fruits in front of the holy pavazhakal vimanam (temple car) in which the deity of Sri Karaikal Ammaiyar was taken in ‘sandhana kappu alankaram’. The ‘amudhu padayal’ celebrations was held later in the evening at the end of the procession.
S.K. Pannerselvam, Executive Officer, made the arrangements for the festival.
The festival concludes today.
