Chennai: Friday marked the last day of Lord Athi Varadar darshan in nindra kollam and the day also brought the curtains down to the once in 40 year spectacular rising event of the Lord.
Friday, which is the 47th day of the festival, had to pave way for the temple authorities and priests to prepare for the ceremony on Aug. 17 when Athigiri Varada retires to Ananthasaras and will be in Ekantha Kolam. The penultimate day of the 48-day festival lured at least six lakh devotees who wanted to have a fleeting glimpse of the Lord in the Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple in neighbouring Kancheepuram.
Athi Varadar will emerge from the temple tank only after 40 years, that is, in 2059.
There will be no darshan for the public tomorrow. The deity made by Lord Brahma with fig tree wood, was decked up in a mustard silk robe with a stunning pink border today. Apart from rose and jasmine garlands, there were also shenbagam garlands adorning Athi Varadar.
CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami said over one crore devotees had offered prayers to Athi Varadar since the commencementof the festival. He thanked the officials and staffers of all departments, particularly the revenue, for their hard work to facilitate darshan for devotees for well over a month. Mr Palaniswami said the government had ensured security and all amenities, including health care for visitors.
“In view of the amenities provided by the government,over one crore devotees offered worship to Lord Athi Varadarfrom across the country and abroad,” he said in a statement.
Sanitary workers worked through the night till early morning daily to clean up Kancheepuram and it is highly appreciable, he said and appealed to them to stay back in the town for two more days in view of the work ahead.
The Chief Minister also thanked the district administration, police department, donors, temple employees, priests, volunteers, National Cadet Corps and local people for their hard work during the festival season. The event not only attracted prominent personalities but also saw a woman who came for darshan giving birth to a baby boy in a medical camp at the temple. The woman named her son after the deity as ‘Athi Varadar.’
