Devotees pulling the temple car of Sri Sabanayagar Temple in Chidambaram, organized as part of the Arudra Darshan festival, on January 5, 2023. photo credit: special arrangement
Thousands of devotees from Cuddalore and neighboring districts witnessed the car procession to Sree Sabanayagar Temple, also known as Sree Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram. Arudra Darshan festivalOne of the major events on Thursday.
Five cars carrying the procession-cum-presiding deity Lord Nataraja and his consort Sivagamasundari, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramaniam, and Chandigeswara left the temple premises at around 6 am.
After the procession, Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivagamasundari were brought to the 1,000 pillared mandapam of the temple where special worship was performed.
The sanctum sanctorum will be reopened for devotees on Friday, the last day of the ten-day festival. Arudra Darshan When the presiding deity will be taken out in a palanquin procession in cosmic dance posture.
It is one of the two important annual 10-day festivals when Lord Nataraja is taken out around four car streets in the temple town, the other being ‘Aani Thirumanjanam’.
Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been made by the Cuddalore district police for the Arudra darshan on Friday. Superintendent of Police S. A large number of police personnel led by Shakthi Ganesan have been deployed for security.
The district administration has declared a local holiday for all government offices and educational institutions on Friday in view of the festival.