Chennai: The priests of Mahalakshmi temple, popularly known as Ashtalakshmi temple, in Besant Nagar, Chennai, led by Sridhar Bhattar, today chanted Varuna japam, seeking rain in Chennai that is thirsting for water.
Recently, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Tamilnadu government had directed all temples to conduct Varuna japam and special poojas for rain in the State.
Following this, the priests of Ashtalakshmi temple, that comes under the HR&CE, today arranged for Varuna japam and homam from 9.05 am to 10.30 am and special poojas from 10.30 am to 12 noon. The Varuna japam was chanted by the priests led by Sridhar Bhattar.
There was special thirumanjanam for the main deities Lord Maha Vishnu and Goddess Mahalakshmi, as also processional deities.
The poojas took place to the accompaniment of nadaswaram music along with tavil. The ragas that were played were Amrithavarshini, Megha Varshini, Anand Bhairavi and Roop Kalyani that are believed to bring rain when rendered.
The arrangements were overseen by assistant commissioner M Jothi Lakshmi and executive officer D Chandrasekaran.
Photos and videos: A R Jayakumar