Lord Kallazhagar enters Madurai amid grand Ethir Sevai ritual
Madurai
: Amid chants of "Govinda," beating drums, and devotional fervour,
Lord Kallazhagar
entered Madurai on Sunday morning in a golden palanquin as part of the
Ethir Sevai
ceremony—one of the key events of the annual
Chithirai festival
.The deity, adorned in regal attire, was brought from Alagarkoil to Kondappanayakar Mandapam.
Devotees lined the Alagarkovil Main Road, offering deeparadhana with heated jaggery and puffed rice in bronze vessels, which were later distributed among the crowd.
A special puja was held near the Karuppasamy temple before the deity proceeded into the city.The highlight of the celebrations—the symbolic entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai River—is scheduled for Monday between 5.45 am and 6.05 am near the AV Bridge in Alwarpuram. En route from Alagar Kovil to the riverbank, the deity will be displayed at 494 mandapams across various locations, including Poigai Karai Patti, Kallanthiri, Appan Thiruppathi, Sundararajan Patti, and Kadachanenthal.To manage the influx of devotees, the Madurai Corporation has stepped up civic arrangements. Temporary water tanks have been installed at 52 locations, with sanitation boosted by over 430 workers, supported by additional vehicles. Waste generation during the festival is expected to rise by 40–50 metric tonnes.Public health measures include mosquito and fly control, with 60 power sprayers, 30 hand fogging machines, and nine vehicle-mounted fogging units in action. The corporation has also set up 34 medical camps and deployed 16 ambulances.The fire department has stationed 200 personnel, including 50 in Alwarpuram, and kept four boats on standby to ensure safety at the riverbed. District collector M S Sangeetha inspected the preparations on Sunday evening.MSID:: 121080587 413 |
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