Near Pollachi, the Kundam Festival at Anaimalai Masaniyamman Temple commenced on the ninth day with the traditional Mayana Puja held last night. The highlight was the ritual dance by the temple oracle, Arun, who danced with a bone in his mouth, dismantling the clay figure of the goddess, leaving devotees in awe.
Coimbatore: The Anaimalai Masaniyamman Temple, located near Pollachi, recently witnessed the commencement of its Kundam Festival, starting with the flag hoisting ceremony on the ninth day. One of the festival's central ceremonies, the Mayana Puja, was conducted last night amidst much reverence. Following special prayers to Masaniyamman, over twenty oracles, led by the chief oracle, Arun, and the head priest, Manoharan, carried the goddess's trident to the temple's cremation grounds on the banks of the Aliyar River. A figure of the Mayana deity had been crafted from sacred soil in a reclining posture.
At around 2 AM, to the sound of Pambai music, the curtain hiding the deity's figure was removed. Oracle Arun began to dance with a bone in his mouth, symbolically dismantling the clay figure of the goddess and taking a handful of sacred soil wrapped in a silk saree. The Mayana Puja concluded around 3 AM, witnessed by thousands of devotees who gathered to see the ritual.
The event was well-attended, and to ensure safety and order, the Valparai Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sreenidhi, along with Anaimalai Police Station Inspector Kumar and a contingent of over a hundred police and village guards, were deployed for security.
At around 2 AM, to the sound of Pambai music, the curtain hiding the deity's figure was removed. Oracle Arun began to dance with a bone in his mouth, symbolically dismantling the clay figure of the goddess and taking a handful of sacred soil wrapped in a silk saree. The Mayana Puja concluded around 3 AM, witnessed by thousands of devotees who gathered to see the ritual.
The event was well-attended, and to ensure safety and order, the Valparai Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sreenidhi, along with Anaimalai Police Station Inspector Kumar and a contingent of over a hundred police and village guards, were deployed for security.