Vasantha Utsavam at the famous temple of Lord Annamalaiyar at Thiruvannamalai

The grand annual celebrations for the 10-day spring festival (Vasantha Utsavam) starts from today (Saturday, 29th April) and concludes on 8th May.

It is celebrated in 5 or 6 minor shrines dedicated to Devi or Subramanya.

The ceremonies performed in 10 days – Pandhakkal Muvurtham, Yagasalai with 2 kalasams representing Soma and Kama, and Kappu,

The principal and most attractive feature of the festival are the 10 splendid nightly tours of the god Somaskanda around the Makila trees with music and dance accompaniments.

On the 10th day which falls on the full moon, the gods will go on a tirthavari procession to Ayyamkulam (ritual of the gods taking a holy dip in a sacred pool) and on their return will take place the burning of the Kama enacted in the form of an elaborate divine charade.