On the 3rd day of the ‘Chithirai Vasantha Utsavam’ (spring festival in the Tamil calendar month of Chithirai) celebrated in the famous Thiruvannamalai Lord Arunachaleswarar Temple, the idol of Lord Periyanayakar was taken out in a procession on the 3rd corridor of the temple and the event of ‘Bommai Poocchoridhal’ ( Spraying of flowers’) were performed.
On the occasions of the Vasantha Utsavam (Spring Festival) being celebrated at the famous Thiruvannamalai temple of Lord Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, the deity of the Lord Periyanayakar was taken in a procession on 17th April from the 2nd Corridor of the temple and taken to the ‘Panneer Mandapam’ located in the 3rd corridor.
The deity of Lord Periyanayakar was taken round the ‘Sthala Viruksham’ (the sacred temple tree) 10 times!
Subsequently, the Spring festival (Vasantha Utsavam) is scheduled to be celebrated for 10 days.
One of the main events of the spring festival, the event of the ‘Manmadhan Dhaganam’ (The God of Love Manmadha being burnt to death) is set to be performed on the 10th Day!
Usually, the ‘Chithirai Vasantha Vizha’ Spring Festival in the Tamil Calendar month of Chithirai, is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in a grand manner every year in the famous Lord Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Thiruvannamalai.
However, this year’s Spring Festival, scheduled to be celebrated from 17th April until 26th April, will be celebrated with no participation from the devotees who have not been allowed due to the prevalent raging resurgent coronavirus pandemic giving due consideration to the safety and health of the devotees as well as the guidelines given by the central government in this regard, the important ceremonies as per the timetable and the adornment of the deities and the Deeparadhanai will be performed within the ‘temple Yadhasthaanam’ itself!
On the Occasion of the Tamil New Year (‘Pilava’) On the 14th of April, the New Year Almanac (‘Panchangam’) was offered to the Lord Sambandha Vinakar in the famous Thiruvannamalai Temple of the Lord Thiruvannamalaiyar with His Consort Unnamulai Amman.
After offering the new ‘Panchangam’ (Almanac) of the new Tamil Year ‘Pilava’, was read by the Sivacharyas of the temple!
The divine marriage and the event of ‘Pali Viduthal’ (performing some special poojas and offering certain special items to the temple pond for the welfare of the people) was performed on the sacred day of ‘Panguni Uthiram’ (the day on which one of the 27 stars, Uhthiram’ falls on the Tamil Calendar Monrth of Panguni) was performed at the ‘Thamaraikkulam’ banks (bank of the Lotus-pond).
Following the Divine Marriage performed on the sacred day of Panguni Uthiram, at the Lord Arunachaleswarar temple at Thiruvannamalai, on the subsequent 2nd day, ‘Nalangu Utsavam’(drawing patterns on the skins of the hands and leg) was performed at the 3rd Corridor Thirukkalyana Mandapam.
The Divine Marriage was performed on the day of Panguni Uthiram at the ‘Thirukkalyanamandapam’ (Marriage Hall) located on the 3rd corridor of the temple. After the divine marriage was performed, the deities of the Lord Periya Nayakar and His Consort Goddess Parasakthi Amman were taken in a procession on the special carriage of the Thanga Rishabham’ (Golden Bull) and the carriage of Kamadhenu (Divine Cow) across the ‘Mada’ (corridor) streets.
