Kanchipuram, Apr 24:
The grand Chithirai Uthiram festival at the Kachabeswarar Temple commenced with the traditional flag-hoisting ceremony, marking the start of the annual celebrations. The auspicious ritual was performed in the early hours, with priests conducting special pujas before hoisting the sacred flag bearing the symbol of Nandi on the temple’s flag mast.
As part of the festival, special abhishekam and alankaram were performed for Lord Kachabeswarar and Goddess Sundarambigai. Following the ceremony, the deities were taken out in a procession on a palanquin, allowing devotees to offer prayers. Large numbers of devotees from Kanchipuram and nearby areas gathered to witness the ceremonial beginning of the festival.
The multi-day festival will feature daily processions of the deities on various vahanams, including Surya, Chandra, and Nandi vahanams. Key events include the grand chariot procession scheduled for April 30 and the silver chariot festival on May 3, drawing significant participation from devotees. Temple authorities have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the celebrations.