Hundreds of devotees thronged the Vaigai riverbed here at the early hours of Monday to witness the entry of Lord Kallazhagar in the river, marking the culmination of the five-day annual Chithirai festival of Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple.
After leaving the temple at 2 a.m. in a Palanquin decorated with flowers, Lord Sundararaja Perumal entered the river in the guise of Kallazhagar at 3. 35 a.m. after relishing sweet pongal.
As the Kallazhagar, adorned in a blue silk sari entered the riverbed, a large number of devotees from the neighbouring villages who had gathered in the riverbed reverently performed “theerthavari” amid chanting of mantras. They also performed special pujas at the Mandagapadigal and offered worship amid bursting of crackers.
The belief has it that the celebration would bring copious rain and prosperity in the lives of farmers and businessmen. A large number of young men and women also attended the festival, seeking early marriage.
Later, the Azhagar was taken in a procession in “kudirai vahanam” through Melachathiram, Kattu Paramakudi and Manjal Pattinam to Thallakulam. The Lord, after a ‘Sandana kaappu abishekam’ gave dharshan to the devotees.
