Chennai: Braving the chill breeze, devotees turned up at Vaishnavite temples and offered worship here on Saturday on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi.
HunÂÂdreds of devotees thronged the ancient Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple, Triplicane, which is among the 108 Divya Desams, since 4.30 am for darshan.
The imposing image of Lord Parthasarathy, decÂkÂed in rathna angi, along with His divine conÂÂsÂorts, was brought thÂrÂÂÂoÂÂugh the sorga vasal or paramapada vasal in the wee hours.
The devotees accompanying the Lord chanted sloÂkas and pundits recited verses from the Nalayira Divya PrabhÂandam. The huge temple wore a festive look and darshan was allowed till midnight. Vaikunta EkaÂdasi was celebrated in a grand manner at Sri Madhava Perumal temple in MylaÂpore, and also at the Sri Anantha PadmaÂnabha SwÂaÂmy temple, Adyar.
The processional deity, dressed in rathna angi, blessed the devotees. A large number of devotees had a wonderful darshan of the Perumal at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy teÂmÂple at the TTD information centre in T. Nagar. Prior to this, the pagal pathu utsavam concluded on January 10. The next 10-day festival following the Vaikunta Ekadasi, caÂlÂÂlÂed raa pathu utsavam will commence from SunÂday.
Devotees waited in long-winding queues and sought the Lord’s blessings. Many temples in the city that have multiple deities, including Lord Vishnu, also performed spÂeÂcial poojas on the occasion.
The event was celeÂÂÂbrated with religious piety at several temples incÂlÂÂÂuding Sowmya DamÂoÂdara Perumal temple, VilÂlivakkam, Sri NarasiÂmÂhaswamy temple, NangÂaÂnallur, and Chenna KeÂsava Perumal temple, PaÂrÂÂry’s. The Ashtalakshmi temple overlooking the deep blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, too, received several hundrÂeds of devotees.
