MADURAI: A day after the entry of Kallalagar into River Vaigai, the deity as part of the ongoing Chithirai festival in Madurai was taken in a procession to the Thenur mandapam (hall) on Tuesday where the ritual of the lifting of the curse of sage Manduga was performed amid the presence of scores of devotees.
On Tuesday, Kallalagar mounted on a golden sesha vahana was taken in a procession to the Thenur mandapam in the Vaigai bed.
Later in the night, the Kallalagar procession will reach Ramarayar mandapam in a golden Garuda vahana.
As per the ritual, fulfilling the wish of sage Manduga, Kallalagar shows all his 10 avatars (dasavathara darisanam). The rituals are scheduled to be performed at the Ramarayar mandapam. Later on Wednesday, the deity will be adorned in mohini alangaram and will begin the journey back to the Alagar hills.
Special crowd regulation measures have been made at both the mandapams. Meanwhile, S Vignesh, a devotee from Kulamangalam, commended the WRD for clearing the invasive plant species ridding the river near Thenur mandapam. “But throughout the rest of the year, the river remains unmaintained, promoting invasive plant growth and garbage dumping. The corporation and the WRD department could take action.”
‘Deaths during Alagar’s Vaigai entry due to natural causes’
After two people died during the annual Kallalagar procession on Monday, police officials clarified in a statement that both of them died due to natural causes and not due to suffocation by the crowd. They stated that the first death was reported near the HR&CE Mandagapadi situated within the Vaigai river. The deceased was identified as C Boominathan (64) of Tirunelveli.
As Boominathan arrived at the platform with his family at 4 am, he suddenly fell unconscious. Though the police administered first aid, he died of cardiac arrest and not suffocation. The second death was reported near Kalpalam. The deceased was identified as Marikannan of Sellur. It is said that Marikannan was on the streets for the past three years after having issues with his wife, and his death was caused due to poor health and not suffocation.