CHENNAI: With the wait for darshan of Athi Varadhar protracting for long hours owing to unprecedented crowds thronging the ancient Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple in Kancheepuram near here, the temple authorities and district administration have decided to extend the darshan timings upto 8 pm.
On auspicious Saturday, being a holiday, coinciding with the sixth day of the Athi Varadhar festival, which is being held after a long gap of 40 years, the devotees stood in winding queues that stretched upto 5 km.
The entry to the temple was through the East Mada Street and exit was through the west.
Temple authorities say over four lakh devotees have visited the temple since the last five days and on Saturday alone about one lakh devotees were said to have visited the temple, which has suddenly became a major attraction to see the idol of the Lord which was brought out of the temple tank.
The idol is made out of fig tree by Lord Brahma. It would be immersed in the temple tank after 48 days (on Aug. 17).
The Athi Varadhar vaibhavam (festival) was previously held on 1939 and again in 1979.
Except on the days of the Garuda sevai falling on July 11 and 15, the devotees would be allowed to have darshan of Athi Varadhar from 5 am to 8 pm. On those two days, darshan will be permitted from 5 am till 5 pm.
The Athi Varadhar festival commenced on July 1 and on the first day about one lakh devotees visited the temple and over 65, 000 visited on the second day. As the number of devotees visiting the temple for darshan of Athi Varadhar increasing by thousands by the day, the district administration has announced to allow the devotees till 8 pm on all days.
