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Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Vibrant Colchester Hindu ceremony attracts more than 500 people from north Essex
A VIBRANT Hindu ceremony attracted more than 500 attendees from across north Essex. The Colchester Hindu Society hosted the sacred Srinivasa Thirukalyanam, on May 25, at Littlegarth School in Colchester. Approximately 550 people attended the event, and this was a testament to community unity and the richness of Sanathana Dharma. The Srinivasa Thirukalyanam is the celestial wedding of Lord Srinivasa with Sridevi and Bhoo Devi Thayars. It is a highly revered ceremony in Hindu tradition. Guests honoured during the community celebration in Colchester (Image: The Colchester Hindu Society) The Colchester Hindu Society, backed by community members, organised the event to unite people and educate the younger generation about the cultural elements of Sanathana Dharma. The ceremony featured traditional activities such as Pallaki Seva (procession of deities), Thirumanjanam (sacred bath), Veda Ghosti (Vedic chanting), Divya Prabhandam (devotional hymns), and Namasangeerthanam (congregational chanting). These activities created a vibrant, spiritual, and traditional atmosphere akin to that of ancient temples. The wedding ceremony is performed with devotion and tradition (Image: The Colchester Hindu Society) The event also included culturally enriching activities for children to connect them with the rich heritage of Sanathana Dharma. A communal feast was served in the traditional way on banana leaves to all attendees, further enhancing the sense of shared celebration. The Thirukalyanam fostered a strong sense of togetherness, with attendees expressing they felt blessed by the rituals and closer to one another. The event successfully broke down language and regional barriers, serving as a unifying force. Traditional decorations enhanced the temple-like setting (Image: The Colchester Hindu Society) A Colchester Hindu Society organiser said: "We are very pleased that the community came together to celebrate Srinivasa Thiru Kalyanam and contributed to the success of the event." The Colchester Hindu Society's commitment to preserving and sharing cultural heritage while building a cohesive community was clearly evident at the event. The society aims to create a sense of unity and educate the younger generation about the cultural elements of Sanathana Dharma through such events.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kallazhagar enters Vaigai, lakhs gather for Chithirai festival spectacle
Madurai : As the first light of dawn coloured the sky over the Vaigai on Monday, chants of "Govinda, Govinda" echoed across Madurai as Lord Kallazhagar stepped into the riverbed—a defining moment of the annual Chithirai Festival that draws lakhs of in green silk symbolising prosperity, and mounted on a golden horse, the deity's ceremonial entry around 6 am marked the spiritual high point of the festival, which re-enacts the legend of Lord Vishnu arriving late for his sister Meenakshi's wedding and blessing devotees in festivities began on April 29, with Kallazhagar's journey from Alagar Kovil. On Saturday, the deity set out on a golden palanquin, stopping at over 450 decorated mandagapadis across the city. On Sunday night, he reached the Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple in Thallakulam, where rituals including Thirumanjanam and the garland offering from Goddess Andal were performed before the deity mounted the Ayirampon Sapparam and then the golden horse for his river tradition dictates, Lord Veera Raghava Perumal from the Venkatachalapathy Temple greeted Kallazhagar on a silver horse at the Vaigai's northern bank, symbolising divine riverbed, adorned with lotus leaves, marigolds, and fabric canopies, became a sacred stage for devotion. Devotees—many camping overnight—lined the banks with sakkarai deepams (jaggery lamps), while women performed deeparadhana. Children in traditional dress splashed water joyfully, continuing a generational ritual. Kallazhagar performed three symbolic circumambulations in the riverbed, giving devotees close darshan before the procession moved toward Ramarayar security and civic arrangements were in place. Madurai city police set up barricades for crowd control, while fire services, ambulances, and medical teams were deployed along the banks. Over 430 sanitation workers were on duty to manage the festival waste, which is expected to spike by 40–50 metric tonnes daily. Drinking water tanks and over 20 public toilets were made year, special viewing spaces were arranged on Albert Victor Bridge for persons with disabilities. "We could stand on our two-wheelers and get a better view," said N Manikandan from K K devotees also performed nerthikadan (ritual head shaving) along the river, offering personal vows to the deity. Later, Kallazhagar moved to Ramarayar Mandagapadi, where the Theerthavari (sacred water offering) was performed. The Vaigai zone and adjoining streets remained lit through the night, matching the spiritual fervour with festive deity will continue to visit other mandagapadis before returning to Alagar Kovil on Thursday, following rituals at Thennur Mandapam and Dashavathara 121112407 413 |
