Thousands of devotees witnessed the car festival of the Kandaswamy Temple at Thiruporur on Sunday. The festival is part of the annual Masi Brahmotsavam of the famous Murugan shrine. The Ther left the entrance of the temple at 10:20 a.m. and returned at 2.30 p.m. after going along the four Mada streets. Shouts of Arohara rent the air as the car moved around.  

The festival began on March 3 with the flag hoisting and the temple car went around on the 7th day. On Monday evening, the deity Kandaswamy accompanied by His Consorts Valli and Deivanai will go on Paari vettai (hunting) to Aalathur where rabbits will be let in the path of the utsava idols and the priests will enact a hunting scene. The utsava idols will return by Tuesday evening via Thandalam. The float festival will be held on Wednesday, girivalam on Thursday, Vedar Pari utsavam when the Lord will bring Valli, and Thirukalyanam event will be held on Saturday., explained a source in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.

K. Sivaraman, a devotee, said that proper arrangements had been made for the large crowd that had gathered for the festival. Drinking water and annadhanam had also been provided by devotees all along the route.

Meanwhile, Minister for HR&CE P. K. Sekarbabu on Sunday laid the foundation stone for reconstructing the 1000-year-old Kailasanathar temple at Padi at a cost of Rs. 3.50 crore. The temple is in a run down condition with the deities at 4 feet below road level. Similarly, he also launched works estimated at Rs. 1.80 crore to renovate the tank of the Thiruvelleeswarar temple in Padi.