The three-day Neelakanteswara jathara in connection with ‘Rathasapthami’ festival before the famous Shaivite temple at Kanteswar on Armoor road got off to a colourful start here this evening.
A large number of devotees thronged the temple premises and pulled the chariot with idols of deities up to Talli Gori (mother’s tomb) and back. The premises reverberated with chanting of ‘Hara Hara Mahadeva Shambho Shankara’’ when the chariot was drawn. Devotees witnessed the procession with religious fervour.
Women performed ‘kolatam’ to the drum beats in front of the chariot. Police led by Deputy SP D. Anandkumar made an elaborate security to avoid any untoward incident. They diverted the vehicular traffic on the road by erecting barricades. Mayor Akula Sujatha and Corporators and other elected representatives offered poojas at the temple and to chariot.
The temple was illuminated and a number of shops selling different articles and pooja material emerged at the premises.
