Special pujas and rituals in various temples in the holy town marked the occasion of Akshya Tritiya on Tuesday with the highlight being the grand Garuda Sevai when deities from several important Vishnu temples in Kumbakonam lined up at the Big Street here to offer darshan for close to two hours.
The annual Garuda Seva involving multiple temple deities is a watershed event in the religious annals of Kumbakonam and thousands of devotees gathered from far and near to witness the spectacle . Though usually 12 deities assemble at the huge pandal specially put up for the occasion, this year processional deities from Ramasamy, Chakrapani and Sarangapani temples could not make it to the Garuda Seva as balalayam had already been performed at those temples in connection with the renovation works being carried out ahead of the Mahamaham due next February.
Elsewhere, a laksharchanai was performed on Akshaya Tritiya at the Sri Jagannnatha Perumal temple at Nathan Koil, about eight kilometres from here when devotees gathered in large numbers to witness the rituals.
The day was observed in a spectacular manner at the Sri Akshayapureeswarar temple at Vilangulam near Peravoorani where special pujas and rituals were performed for Sri Akshayapureeswarar, Goddess Abhiviruthi Nayaki, and Sri Adhi Brihad Saneeswarar deities at the temple.
Executive Officer of the temple P.Govindaraju and other officials had made elaborate arrangements for the thousands of devotees who thronged the shrine since early in the day.
Annadhanam, the speciality for Akshaya Tritiya, was offered to the visiting devotees to mark the occasion.
