Devotees celebrate Mangani festival

Puducherry, Jun 18 (UNI) Thousands of devotees today thronged the Kailasanathar temple in Karaikal region of Puducherry on the occasion of Mangani festival.

According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Siva manifested as a beggar, went to 'Karaikal Ammayaar' and collected mangoes from her.

The festival was celebrated to commemmorate the occasion.

District Collector, senior police officials and several Legislators, including Leader of the Opposition A M H Nazeem, were among others who participated in the festival.

In Puducherry, the deity of the Vedapureeswarar temple was taken out for "Veedhi Ula" in the temple cart decorated with mangoes to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile, the Karaikal Struggle Group strongly criticised the administration for its "failure" to organise the three-day tourism festival in connection with the Mangani festival.

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