TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: Thousands of devotees thronged the famous Lord Ranganathaswamy temple in nearby Srirangam on the occasion of 'Vaikunta Ekadasi' festival which was celebrated with religious fervour today.
Adorned with glittering pearls and diamonds, the utsava idol of Namperumal was brought out of the sanctum sanctorum at around 3.45 am and later taken through the 'Paramapada Vaasal', the celestial gateway to heaven.
Thousands of devotees from various parts of the country, including from neighbouring Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, thronged the temple, considered as the foremost among the 108 sacred Vaishnavite shrines, on the occasion and offered worship. More than 4,000 police personnel were deployed for managing the crowd on this auspicious day.
The idol of presiding deity Lord Ranganathaswamy seen in a sleeping posture atop the hooded serpent was decorated in 'Muthangi Sevai' (pearl dress). The Vaikunta Ekadasi festival was conducted in Vaishnavite temples across the state.