A large number of devotees offered worship at Sri Arangulanathar Temple on the occasion of the Vaikasi Visagam car festival at Tiruvarangulam near here on Sunday.
The processional idols of Sri Siva and Sri Brahanayaki were brought to the temple cars and, amidst religious fervour, the devotees pulled the cars through the four streets in the village.
A salient feature of the festival is that it attaches importance to the Dalit community and, keeping with the tradition, the car was first pulled by Pitchai Sivanesar and a group of people belonging to the Adi-Dravida community. The villagers belonging to Adi Dravidar community observe a holy fast during the festival period.
The festival commenced on May 22 with the hoisting of the holy flag. Special alankaram were performed and the deities were taken out in a procession in different ‘vaganams’.
Karaikal
A large number of devotees from different parts of the state pulled the temple car at Sri Dharbaranyeswarar, popularly known as Sri Saneeswarar temple, at Tirunallar on Saturday night. The processional idol of Sri Saneeswarar was taken on a golden crow through the car streets.
The procession formed part of the ‘Brahmothsavam’ which commenced on May 15 at the temple. This is the only occasion when the processional idol of Sri Saneeswarar is brought on the golden crow. The float festival was held later, marking the conclusion of the festival.
