Pujas, dance fest mark celebrations in Thanjai

Sources said that special poojas which started on Monday evening for the 13-foot-high Peruvudayar (Sivalingam) at the Big Temple went on till the early hours on Tuesday. Different abhishekams using tender coconut water, sandal paste, turmeric paste, milk and other materials, were also performed for the deity.

The Mahasivarathri celebrations at the Chola-era temple began with a deeparadhana.

Meanwhile, Brahan Natyanjali, a seven-day dance festival, also commenced on Monday night. Dances of classical forms from all over the country would perform at the temple throughout the night of Mahasivarathri.

Similar celebrations were also organised at the Thirunageswaram temple in Kumbakonam around 6 pm on Monday and special abhishekams would be held at 10 pm.

Similarly, special abhishekams and pujas were also performed for 108 Sivalingams at the Ramalingaswamy temple at Papanasam.

Pujas were conducted in most of the Siva temples in the district, including Palaivananathaswamy temple, Tiruppalathurai, Mahalingaswamy temple at Tiruvidaimarudur, Adhi Kumbeswar temple atKumbakonam.