Tamil Nadu

Here comes Kallazhagar, heralding a year of plenty

Sunday, April 20, will be very different for north Madurai. Its streets will swarm with people as Lord Kallazhagar of Sundararaja Perumal Temple at Alagarkoil will perform his annual ritual of entering the Vaigai in the morning.

The huge crowd that followed the deity from Alagarkoil will be joined by several thousands of people in the city. The entourage will walk to Vandiyur where Lord Kallazhagar will stay at the Veeraraghava Perumal Temple to retrace his route on Monday.

In recent years, the grand entry of Lord Kallazhagar on a golden horse had been taking place virtually on a bone dry river. This year, thanks to copious summer rain, the entry will take place while water flows.

The sun has not been cruel on Madurai in the past few days and hence a larger turnout is expected in the river.

An indication of a good harvest was also seen a few days back when the deity left Alagarkoil for Madurai. The crowd that accompanied him was more than usual.

The procession will also move on a plastic road laid by the Public Works Department on the Vandiyur Main Road a few days back.

But what will not be different, devotees point out, is the Thenur Mandapam on the Vaigai. It is here the main event of the Chithirai brahmotsavam takes place every year. Lord Kallazhagar redeems Mandooga Maharishi of his curse, which is enacted by residents of Thenur in the form of a white stork flying away in the presence of the deity.

The ancient mandapam, constructed by King Tirumalai Nayak when he telescoped the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswarar in Madurai with the Chithirai festival of Alagarkoil continues to remain in a bad shape.

Though the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has given an assurance to renovate the mandapam, the structure has not been lucky this year.

S. Annamalai

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