Thousands join Big Temple car fest

The bronze images of Thyagarajar and Kamalambal were brought from the temple and placed on the sixteen-and -a-half-foot-high decorated car. After the bronze images were placed on the car at ‘Theradi’ on West Main Street, special ‘deepa aradhana’ was performed. With the waving of green flag, the devotees started pulling the car.

Agriculture Minister R Doraikkannu, Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam, District Collector A Annadurai led the devotees in pulling the car through the West Main Street. The procession started around 5.45 am and ended at 11 am. Several women took out a procession carrying pots with sprouts on their head (Mulaipari).

Artistes were seen performing traditional dance forms ‘Kolattam’ and ‘Thappattam’ in front of the moving car.

Traditional musical instruments Thambai, Udumba were also played.

‘Dharmambal’, the resident elephant of Thiruvaiyaru Aiyarappar temple walked before the procession. The car was stopped at 14 places for devotees to offer prayers. Small temple cars with idols of Vinayakar, Subramaniyar, Neelothpalambal and Chandeeswarar were also pulled.

The main temple car, built at a cost of Rs 37 lakh,was first pulled by devotees during the Chithirai festival in 2015.

The car festival that year was celebrated after a gap of more than a century, temple sources said.