Nallur Kandasamy Temple festival begins

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 August 2005, 15:53 GMT]
Twenty-seven day annual festival of the historic Nallur Kandasamy Temple in Jaffna began Wednesday morning with the Sacred Flag hoisting ceremony (Kodi Yetam) in the presence of large number of devotees. The chariot (THER) festival will be held on September 2 and the Water Cutting (Theertham) festival on September 3, temple authorities said.

The Sacred Flag Tuesday morning was taken in a decorated chariot from Nallur Saddanathar Sivan Kovil to Nallur Kandasamy Temple and handed over to the Kandasamy Temple chief priest, according to traditional rites which has been in force since the rule of King Sangiliyan.

The flag was hoisted Wednesday 10.30 am with large number of devotees chanting.

All roads leading to the Nallur Kandasamy Temple have been closed for traffic for the 27 days to allow devotees unimpeded access to the temple facilities, transport authorities said.

Local volunteers have been deployed in the vicinity of the temple to monitor all traffic arrangements. The police are taking steps to set up temporary police post near the temple vicinity to maintain law and order, sources said.