Ramanathpuram
The annual Adi Thirukalyanam festival at the historic Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram, coinciding with ‘aadi amavasya’, one of the powerful newmoon days to offer ‘tharpanam’ (ancestral ritual) to honour ancestors, began with flag-hoisting ceremony on Saturday.
Hundreds of devotees offered worship and special prayers as the temple priests hoisted the flag near the Ambal Sannathi in the ‘Thulam Lagna’, amid chanting of mantras, marking the commencement of the 17-day-long festival.
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After ‘Aadi amavasya’ on August 11 and ‘Thirukalyanam’ on August 15, the festival would draw to a close on August 20.
Joint Commissioner of the temple G.C. Mangayarkarasi, Temple ‘thakkar’ (fit person) Raja Kumaran Sethupathy, and Temple Assistant Divisional Engineer, K. Mayilvahanan, were among others present during the flag-hoisting ceremony held between 10.31 a.m. and 12 noon.
A large number of pilgrims and devotees from various parts of the country were expected to visit the temple and the ‘agnitheertham’ sea in front of the temple on August 11 on the occasion of ‘aadi amavasya’, one of the three powerful full moon days to pay obeisance to their ancestors.
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Lord Ramanathaswamy would be taken out on a procession on Golden chariot to the sea for ‘theerthavari’ on ‘amavasya’ day. Later in the evening, his consort and Goddess Parvathavarthini would be taken out on a procession on Silver chariot around the temple and would give darshan to the devotees, temple authorities said.
Temple authorities have decided to make available sanitation, drinking water supply and other basic facilities to the people on ‘amavasya’ day. The district police have also drawn elaborate security arrangements.
After ‘Thiru therottam’ (car festival) on August 12, the betrothal ceremony would be held on August 14, when Ambal would be brought to the ‘thabasu mandapam’, where Swamy and Ambal would exchange garlands, after which, Ambal would be taken out on a procession around the temple on a flower decorated palanquin in the evening. The next day on August 15, ‘Thirukalyanam’ the celestial wedding of the Lord with Ambal would be held.