Maha Pushkaram ends with ‘Maha Aarathi’

Trichy: Thousands of devotees took a holy dip in the Cauvery as the 12-day-long Maha Pushkaram culminated here on Saturday. Maha Aarathi was performed in the evening to mark the end of the celebrations which commenced on September 12 at Mayiladuthurai in Nagapattinam district.
Crowds began gathering on the banks of the river at Amma Mandapam in Srirangam from the early hours of the day.Mangala Aarathi was performed at 7 am in the river and Dasavathara homam around 8 am by the priests at the yagasala set up at Amma Mandapam. Soon after, thousands of devotees from across the state as well as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka took a holy dip at the Amma Mandapam. Around 12 pm, ‘Maha Poornahuthi’ was performed.
At 6 pm, Maha Aarathi was observed on the river bank at Amma Mandapam which was followed by ‘Thirukalyanam’ between Aathi Nayagi Thayar and Aathi Nayagi Perumal around 7 pm. According to the Cauvery Maha Pushkaram committee members, as many as 15 lakh devotees had so far taken a holy dip along the Cauvery in the 12 days.
Similar rituals had also taken place at ‘Thulakattam’ in Mayiladuthurai from early morning till evening. Puja with honey, milk and sandal was performed in Cauvery. Following Maha Aarathi around 6 pm, ‘Thirukalyanam’ was performed to Mother Cauvery and Samuthirarajan.
Swaminatha Sivacharyar and Senthilnatha Sivacharyar administered the holy marriage. The Pushkaram is said to occur once in 144 years and, according to the Hindu almanac, roughly coincides with the transit of Jupiter from Kanya Rasi to Thula.