PATHANAMTHITTA: Thousands of devotees thronged the Chengannur Sree Mahadeva temple to offer worship on the occasion of the Thrippootharattu festival of Goddess Parvathi on Wednesday.
The ritual began with the thantri performing the arattu at Mithrapuzha kadavu in Pampa river, about one km north-east of the temple. After the arattu ceremony, the sreebali idol of Goddess Parvathi was kept at the special enclosure on the side of the arattu kadavu.
After conducting poojas, the procession carrying the thidambu of Goddess Parvathi on a caparisoned elephant was taken to the temple at 11 a.m. The procession wound its way to the temple with the accompaniment of thalapoli, panchavadyam, nadaswaram and chendamelam.
Hundreds of “paras” were offered on the entire procession route. On reaching the temple gate, the arattu procession was given a traditional reception by another procession carrying the thidambu of Sree Mahadeva on a caparisoned elephant.
After reaching in front of the flagmast, the processions carrying the thidambu of Sree Mahadeva and Goddess Parvathi rounded the Nalambalam. The arattu ritual concluded with Kalabhabhishekam held at 2.30 p.m.
Annadanam was offered to the thousands of devotees who gathered on the temple premises.