Devotees had been able to enjoy a large part of Kapaleeswarar’s Vasantha Utsavam in mid April at the beginning of Chitrai. But with the restrictions coming into force in the later part of last month, they have not been able to witness the 15 day Singaravelar Vasantha Utsavam that ended last evening.
Ashish Vidhyarthi has been a regular at this temple for the last seven years for the Artha Jaama Pooja. As a devotee, he has participated in providing service during the anna dhanam at the madapalli cutting vegetables, serving food and cleaning the anna dhanam hall.
He says, “During the Kapaleeswarar Vasantha Utsavam in April, we used to serve prasadam to devotees in the evening after 8.30pm. The restriction on devotees’ entry into temples in late April came as a shock.”
On the final day of the Vasantha Utsavam on Wednesday evening, Singaravelar was seen in a beautiful, flower-decorated Peacock alankaram.
Head priest E Venkatasubramanian Shivachariar said that the absence of devotees inside the temple during the entire Vasantha Utsavam was definitely saddening.
With the completion of the Vasantha Utsavam for Pillayar, Kapaleeswarar and Singaravelar, the Palli Arai Pooja will resume tonight after a break of 27 days. As part of the Artha Jaama Pooja at 9pm, there will be a pallakku procession inside the temple every evening from today followed by Palli Arai Pooja.
On Thursday, on the occasion of Chitrai Rohini, the star of Mangayakarasi Nayanar, an abhisekam was performed this morning.
- By S. Prabhu
