Dasara festivities begin with flag hoisting in Kulasai

MADURAI: Amidst a huge gathering of devotees, the ten-day Dasara festival got off to a start at the Goddess Mutharamman temple in Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district on Tuesday with flag hoisting.

The ceremonial flag was taken in a procession accompanied by music by a decked elephant. The temple priests hoisted a flag at 5.36 am, to mark the beginning of the festival. The devotees chanted ‘Om Kali Jai Kali’.

Subsequently, a special Deeparadhana was performed in front of the flag mast.

Earlier, the temple was open to devotees at around 3 am, and subsequently, special pujas were performed for the Goddess Mutharamman, and rituals were also performed at the flag mast, sources said.

Next to Mysuru, the festival assumes great significance in the beach town of Kulasekarapattinam. The grand festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil, symbolised by Goddess Durga’s victory over demon Mahishasura.

Many devotees tie ‘kaappu’, a sacred thread, as it is regarded as a ritual to mark the beginning of the fast, which is observed.

During the festivities, the devotees usually dress in different colours in the guise of Gods, Goddesses and celestial beings like Kali and Durga and also to resemble mythical figures such as the king, monkey and gypsy.

The devotees would collect money from the public as offerings to the Goddess, and many of them would also undertake a padayatra to the temple from Thoothukudi to fulfil their vows and prayers.

Soorasamharam, a key event of the festivities, is scheduled to be held at Kulasekarapattinam beach at midnight on October 2.

The District Administration arranged necessary facilities, including water and toilets, for the devotees, who are expected to come in large numbers in the coming days.

As many as 4,000 police personnel would be deployed on October 1 in the vicinity of the temple in the interest of devotees, sources said.