Thousands of devotees thronged Samayapuram Sri Mariamman temple and pulled the temple car on the occasion of ‘Chithrai car festival’ on Tuesday.
Amidst religious fervour, the processional idol of Sri Mariamman was brought to the temple car in the morning. At about 10-45 a.m., the devotees pulled the car through the temple streets at Samayapuram. The car was brought to rest at about 2 p.m.
A large number of devotees had begun arriving at the temple even as early as Monday night. Many of them, mostly women, were seen raising holy slogans in praise of Sri Mariamman, even as they were carrying a fire pot on a bunch of neem leaves.
The car festival commenced on April 11, with the traditional religious flag hoisted at the temple. The district administration made elaborate arrangements in consultation with the temple authorities. Watch-towers and surveillance cameras were set up at several places for the smooth conduct of the festival.
Distribution of free meals to the devotees formed the highlight of the festival. Several individuals and institutions made arrangements for the free ‘annadaanam’ at various places in Samayapuram.
