A large number of devotees converged on the banks of the Vaigai river to witness the holy spectacle of Lord Kallazhagar making His entry into the river as a part of the Chithirai festival, here on Monday.
A festive spirit prevailed in the temple city all through Sunday night as devotees dressed in colourful attire took part in celebratory dances and chanted hymns. Since the river was in full flow with the release of water ahead of the festival, the public began assembling on the banks of the river from as early as 4 a.m. to witness the spectacle.
Lord Kallazhagar, the presiding deity of the Kallazhagar temple at Alagarkovil, arrived near the river bed at 6.25 a.m. amidst loud chants of ‘Govinda Govinda’ by devotees. He was received by Lord Veeraraghava Perumal who was mounted on a silver horse, as is the custom.
While the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, and Lord Kallazhagar’s entry in the Vaigai were a part of two separate Chithirai festivals, it was during the reign of King Thirumalai Naicker that the two were linked.
Lord Kallazhagar entered the Vaigai at 6.45 a.m. and was taken in a procession around the mandapam erected in the riverbed near the Albert Victor Bridge.
The popular belief is that Lord Kallazhagar, who sets out from Alagarkovil to attend the marriage of His sister Goddess Meenakshi, is stopped by Lord Veeraraghava Perumal, who tells him that the marriage has already been solemnised. Dejected on hearing this, Lord Kallazhagar chooses not to cross the river but goes into it.
