Chennai: Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is being celebrated across all Vaishnavite temples today.
The paramapadha vasal was opened, and special poojas were conducted for Lord Venkateshwara. At the Srirangam Ranganathar temple, this event was conducted without the presence of devotees citing Covid.
Popular temples like Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane and Tirupati Venkatachalapathy temple, saw the processional deity of the Almighty taken out on garuda vahanam, as part of the festivities.
Devotees thronged in large numbers at Vishnu temples across the State. It may be recalled that most of these temples had announced that Vaikunta Ekadasi will be celebrated keeping State-enforced Covid restrictions in place.
The Parthasarathy temple had earlier asked its devotees to register online and avail a token in order to get a darshan of the Lord.
The authorities had noted that those without masks shall be denied entry, and people above 65 years of age, those with diabetes or blood pressure issues, pregnant women and those with known co-morbidities were requested not to come, in view of Covid-19.
The Srirangam Arulmigu Ranganathaswamy temple too was directed to opt for token system and online booking to allow darshan for Vaikunta Ekadasi.
The temple management was instructed by the district administration to print passes in different colours, each allowing darshan for a one-hour time slot. It said that devotees will not be allowed inside the temple after 8 pm, while those above 65 years and those with co-morbidities and without face masks will not be allowed.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board of Trustees had decided to open Vaikunta Dwaram (Uttara Dwaram) of Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala for 10 days starting 25 December.