JAYANKONDAM, INDIA, November 12, 2019 (Deccan Chronicle): The annual Aippasi Pournami Annaabishekam was performed on the massive Shiva Lingam at the Sri Bragateeshwarar temple at historic Gangaikondacholapuram near Jayankondam in Ariyalur district on Monday. In all 5,500 lbs. of raw rice was cooked for this purpose and poured on the Shiva Lingam and Maha Deepaaraathanai was performed to Lord Shiva here tonight, in which thousands of devotees from far and near took part.
Similar Annaabishekam was also performed at almost all the popular Shiva temples in Tiruchy, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Pudukkottai, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts today, while some of the Shiva temple authorities in these districts have planned to perform the Annaabishekam on Tuesday. This is a unique festival celebrated every year. Priests perform the special ritual of bathing the Shiva Linga at the famous temple in Gangaikondacholapuram in connection with the Ippasi Pournami festival. Hundreds of devotees including some foreigners witnessed the grand spectacle of huge quantities of cooked rice being poured on the Deity. The rice is later distributed to all devotees.