CHENNAI, INDIA, April 23, 2022 (Casual Walker): The Arubathu Moovar festival is an annual festival of carrying 63 Nayanmars in a procession as part of Panguni Uthiram Peruvizha – Festival in Sri Mylai Kapaleeshwarar Temple/Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple. The Panguni Peruvizha chariot festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva, which happens during the Tamil month of Panguni (between March – April), and is part of the nine-day festival celebrated to honor the Saivite devotees, namely the sixty-three Nayanmars (saints). The Nayanmars are the leading figures and poets of the South Indian Saiva Siddhanta system. The entire streets around Mylapore Kapaleeshwarar temple are filled with devotees to witness the Arupathumoovar Vizha and take part in this festival with cheerfulness and energy.
The procession starts with Goddess Kolavizhi Amman followed by Sri Vinayakar and the main saints – Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnana Sambandar, and Manikkavaasagar. This procession is celebrated by taking the bronze statues of the Nayanmars in a palanquin that is decorated with ornaments and flowers. The main Nayanmars are carried in a separate palanquin. Finally, the Pancha Murthy – Sri Somaskandar, Sri Karpagambal, and Sri Singaravelar are followed. Statues of Kapaleeshwarar and Karpagambal and other Deities are decorated with colorful and fragrant flowers and taken in procession around four Mada Veedhis – streets in and around the Mylai Kapaleeshwarar temple. The statues were carried on the chariot and were stopped at many points to bless the devotees. The festival is happening on such a large scale after a two-year break due to the pandemic.
Vivid photos at source.
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