Author: Staff Reporter
Publication: The Hindu
Date: January 28, 2008
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012859170900.htm
Even as the 10-day 'Thai Poosam' festival
was over with float festival (Theppa Ther) on Friday, it would informally
come to an end only after the visit of a large number pilgrims from Edapadi
and nearby villages in Salem district to the hill temple.
Over 10,000 pilgrims from these villages reached
the Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple on Sunday afternoon to stay on the hill overnight,
a rare and special privilege offered to them during festival days.
A large procession they took out from Edapadi
reached the hill temple around 2 p.m.
They divided into three contingents, each
carrying peacock, "paneer" and tender coconut "kaavadis."
Percussion instrumentalists, elephants and artists carrying holy umbrellas
accompanied these contingents. They took part in 'Sayaratchai' puja, Raja
Alankaram, golden rath procession and 'raakkala' pujas.
They stayed on the hill throughout the night
and would leave for Edapadi the next day. People who brought kaavadis would
only walk home, according to pilgrims.
Furthermore, they prepared "panchamritham"
on the hill temple and offered to Lord Dhandayuthapaniswamy. A team of devotees
reached the temple on Saturday and started the preparations.
They procured two lakh hill bananas, two tonnes
of dates, seven quintal of rock candy and 150 litres of honey, besides cardamom
powder and ghee, to prepare 15 tonnes of "panchamritham" for abishekam.
The Salem Transport Corporation would operate
50 buses from the temple to Edapadi for their return journey.
