Devotion in Dry Cauvery: Aadi Perukku celebration

As there is no water in River Noyyal, people are seen celebrating Aadi Perukku festival in the dry river.

The unique South Indian festival Aadi Perukku is a water-ritual honouring nature. The month Aadi marks the onset of monsoon. Devotees offer their prayers in Tiruchy. (EPS | MK Ashok Kumar) 

Aadi Perukku or Pathinettam perukku is celebrated on the 18th day of Tamil month Aadi. Padinettu means eighteen and Perukku denotes rising. (EPS | MK Ashok Kumar)

The name signifies the rising of water due to monsoon rains. This year Aadi Perukku falls on 3rd August. (EPS | A Raja Chidambaram)

The devotees offer rice dishes to goddess Parvathi Devi and the offerings are made on the banks of sacred rivers like Cauvery. (EPS | MK Ashok Kumar)

In the festival which is primarily observed by the farmers, the devotees take a dip on the water and perform poojas on the riverside. A view from vagai river bed in Madurai. (EPS | K K Sundar)

On one side, the people are seen celebrating Aadi perukku festival in a completely dried river Noyyal in Coimbatore on thursday. (EPS | A Raja Chidambaram)

While on the other side, the river turns into a plastic garbage due to the plastic covers thrown by the people after their prayers. (EPS | A Raja Chidambaram)