Thousands of devotees arrived with lambs from across the district to attend the annual Kutti Kudi festival at the Ukkiramakali Amman Temple in Thennur on Thursday.
The annual lamb sacrifice ritual has been in vogue for several centuries.
Devotees would hand over the animals for sacrifice to appease and seek the blessings of the Goddess.
During the annual ritual, the temple priest (Marulali) would taste the blood of the lamb. As per legend, the priest’s act is treated as the acceptance of the sacrifice from the devotees by the temple’s goddess. During Thursday’s festival, thousands of devotees came from different places in Tiruchy and neighbouring districts as well.
Police made elaborate security arrangements to regulate the huge crowd of devotees and ensure peaceful conduct of the festival.