Chennai: Kanchipuram Collector K Ponniah has said there will be no darshan of Athi Varadar on the last day of the vaibhavam, 17 August.
Accordingly, the time for darshan on 16 August will be extended, he said today, the 39th day of darshan.
Today also marks the 8th day of darshan of the Lord Athi Varadar in ninra thirukolam (standing pose).
What added beauty to the already beautiful idol of Lord Athi Varadar at the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple today was the presence of four green parrots made of palmyra fronds: two big one each on two hands and two smaller ones near the shoulder.
The Lord was dressed in light green and pink silk robes and looked resplendent in a variety of flower garlands. The highlight was the flower crown.
Huge crowds – running into lakhs – were witnessed today and the district administration expects the number to swell in the coming days.
The idol was taken out of the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple tank end-June and kept for darshan in sayana thirukolam from 1 July. On 1 August, the posture changed to ninra thirukolam.
The 48-day festival draws to a close 17 August.
Photo / video: D Sundar