Chennai, Mar 31:
The grand Panguni Uthiram festival has begun at the renowned Vadapalani Murugan Temple, attracting thousands of devotees from across the city.
The celebrations commenced with the special Laksharchanai ritual, marking an auspicious start to one of the most significant festivals dedicated to Lord Murugan.
Recognised as a major spiritual landmark in Chennai, the temple holds deep religious importance, particularly for devotees who are unable to visit Palani Murugan Temple. Many believe that offering prayers at Vadapalani brings blessings equivalent to worshipping at Palani, adding to the temple’s significance during festival occasions.
The Laksharchanai ritual, which involves the chanting of sacred names of Lord Murugan, has seen large participation from devotees. The ritual will continue until March 31, with special arrangements made by temple authorities to manage the heavy turnout and ensure smooth conduct of the ceremonies.
The timings for the Laksharchanai are scheduled from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the morning and from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM in the evening. Devotees can participate in the ritual by paying a fee of ₹250, with facilities arranged to accommodate the increasing number of worshippers.
The temple premises have been decorated for the festival, and arrangements for darshan, crowd management, and prasadam distribution are in place.
With the Panguni Uthiram festival underway, Vadapalani has turned into a vibrant centre of devotion, with a steady flow of devotees seeking blessings during this auspicious period.