Jumbo 150 kg kozhukattai offered to Lord Ganesha in Tiruchy

The preparations for the huge kozhukattai commenced on Wednesday evening by a team of 10 members and it was offered to the presiding deity at Uchchi Pillayar temple on the top of the Rock Fort temple here. The preparation included rice floor, jaggery, coconut and ghee, which are the major ingredients of the offering.

Unlike other festivals in the temple, the cost of the preparation are borne by the devotees. After being prepared, the kozhukattai was taken atop the 272-foot hillock by the temple workers for the special pooja. 

The tradition of preparing the huge offering and distributing it among devotees was started 15 years ago on the occasion of Vinayakar Chaturthi, which used to attract over 10,000 devotees atop the Rock Fort. Earlier, a special pooja was performed at Manicka Vinayakar temple, located at the foot of Rock fort. Sporting special decorations, the Manicka Vinayakar temple jumbo worshipped the Kalyana Vinayakar and was offered fruits by the devotees.

Madurai Collector S Nataraj on Thursday warned that devotees must be cautious while immersing the idols of Lord Vinayagar on Friday and subsequent days. They must immerse the idols only in water bodies earmarked for such activities, he added. The Collector said that 2,500 cusecs of water would be released from the Vaigai dam for agricultural purpose to benefit farmers in Ramnad and the locals must stay alert. Already, 500 cusecs was released, he added.

Further, he advised people not to take bath and engage in fishing and other activities in the river.