Devotees witness Chithirai car festival at Samayapuram

Tiruchirapalli, Apr 17 (UNI) Thousands of devotees from various parts of Tamil Nadu assembled at the ancient 'Arulmigu Mariyamman' temple at Samayapuram, near here to witness the annual 'Chithirai car' festival.

The car festival, held every year during the auspicious Tamil month of Chithirai, is one of the four important annual festivals celebrated at the temple.

Braving scorching sun, the devotees, mostly women clad in a traditional yellow saree, walked from various parts of Tiruchirapalli district and reached the temple to take part in the festival.

Earlier, the idol of goddess 'Sri Mariyamman,' mounted on the decorated temple car was taken out in a procession from the sanctum sanctorum amid recitation of vedic mantras. Special poojas were performed to the deity, before the devotees pulled the car.

The district administration had made elaborate arrangements. A large number of policemen were deployed to control the surging crowd which looked like a sea of humanity on the Tiruchirapalli-Chennai national highway leading to the temple.

Philanthropists and volunteers of various non-governmental organisations distributed free water sachets, food packets and buttermilk to the devotees.

The Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation operated special buses from different parts of the state to the temple.

The district administration declared a local holiday today in view of the festival.

UNI