Vaikunta Ekadasi festival begins at Srirangam temple

TRICHY : Festive spirit is back in Srirangam as the management of Sri Ranganathaswamy temple here on Thursday conducted the Panthakal Naduthal ceremony, a ritual prelude to the annual Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. In the presence of devotees and Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department officials, senior temple priests performed the special poojas while setting the Panthakal (wooden pole) near the 1,000 pillar mandapam.

Every year, during the Tamil month Margazhi (December-January), Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated almost throughout the month in the forms of Pagal Paththu and Raa Paththu festivities, where a set of centuries-old rituals are followed. Officials from HR&CE said that this year the 22 day-long festival has been scheduled to commence with Thirunedunthandakam on December 7, and would go on till December 28, the final day, in which the festival would conclude with Nammalvar Motcham.

The crucial event of the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival, the opening of Paramapatha Vasal will be held in the early hours of December 18. Signifying that the temple is gearing up to host the annual festival, Panthakkal Naduthal ritual was performed on Thursday morning and holy prayers were recited and traditional music instruments were played near the 1,000 pillar mandapam.

Considered as the foremost of the 108 Divya Desam temples, according to Vaishnavaite belief, Sri Ranganathaswamy temple during Vaikunta Ekadasi festival would attract a footfall of not less than 3-4 lakh pilgrims each year. HR&CE sources said that with ample flow in Cauvery this year, the footfall is likely to increase more than the previous years.


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