Chennai: Spiritual guru Bangaru Adigalar lit the Akhanda Deepam Monday to signal the start of Navarathri festival at Melmaruvathur Adi Parasakthi Siddhar Peedam.
Hundreds of devotees gathered to witness the annual, grand event which began with traditional music and abhishekam and golden armour offering to the principal deity, Adi Parasakthi, at 2 am Monday.
The programme organisers performed paadha poojai to Bangaru Adigalar and welcomed him to the temple at 9 am.
This was followed by the main event of lighting the Akhanda Deepam in front of the suyambu Amman idol in the temple by Bangaru Adigalar at 12.30 pm. Following this, children dressed themselves as Mahishasuramardini and Asuras, went on a procession around the temple with the Akhanda Deepam in their hands.
After the procession, the deepam was placed in the agni moolai of the sanctum sanctorum. Bangaru Adigalar worshiped the Akhanda Deepam by adding the traditional ‘mukkootu’ oil. The devotees who had gathered worshipped the Akhanda Deepam and performed latcharchanai by reciting 1008 and 108 holy Tamil texts.
The Navarathri festivities will extend till 19 October and special poojas have been planned at the temple.