Devotees eagerly wait for Adikara Nandi procession

As the donors complete the decoration of silver Adikara Nandi, the devotees are eagerly waiting for its procession to take place tomorrow at 6 a.m.

A group of devotees are planning to come as early as 4 a.m.

"Else, we won't be able to get the proper darshan of Lord Kapaleeswarar in Adikara Nandi vahanam once the crowd starts coming," says a devotee from that group. 

Structure depicting the temple's legend attracts devotees

A structure showing goddess parvathy doing pooja for Shiva lingam with four peacocks in front is kept opposite to the temple office.

Lighted with bright colors this structure that shows the legend behind the temple, is attracting a large number of devotees.

A temple official says, "We usually keep this during our exhibition at the trade centre. Now, we have brought this here for the festival." 

Chandra Vattam getting ready for procession

'Artist Veda' from Vandalur paints the eyes of yazhi present at the sides of Chandra Vattam vahanam.

Chandra Vattam procession will take place at 9 p.m. today. 

Mud for palligai pooja taken from P. S. High School

Just before the Velli Mooshika Vahanam festival is held, a ritual is followed. The mud to be used for the palligai pooja at the temple is taken from P. S. High School, Mylapore. The area from which the mud is to be taken is marked and beautiful kolams are drawn.

Later Sri Chandikeshwarar is taken in a procession from Sri Kapali Temple to the school. After a small pooja, the mud is brought back to the temple. 

Punnai Maram vahanam makes its rounds of the Mada streets

Here are some pictures taken during the punnai maram procession held today evening

The decorated Punnai Maram vahanam.

Picture by Vana Narayanan

The vahanam with the deities.

A young devotee seeks the blessings of the deity

The jadai of the goddess

Donors start serving

Lakskmi Ram, a resident of Nadu street, Mylapore has started serving snacks to the temple volunteers and workers.

She has been serving for the past nine years along with her brother Harish and family. The picture above shows Harish serving a temple worker.

Today they served tea, carrot halwa and masala vada in the evening.

Elsewhere, donors at Sri Vidya Nilayam (pooja items shop) in North Mada Street served sambhar rice in the morning during pancha murthy purappadu. 

Silver Adikara Nandi gets polished

The Silver Adikara Nandi is being polished.

The donor T. K. Kumaraswamy's family is polishing the 102-year-old vahanam.

The vahanam is first polished with kunkun kotai water and vibhuthi. Later, a silver polish is applied.

"Since, our grandfather has donated this vahanam, we are very attached to this one. Hence, we give at most care while handling it," says B. Chandra, grandson of T. K Kumaraswamy.

The Adikara Nandi celebration will take place on March 13 at 6 a.m.

The work on the garland starts

The workers of Raj flower shop, at Ponambala Vathiyar Street are busy tying Sambangi flowers in navarathri mandapam.

 This flower shop has been providing garlands for the Panguni Festival since ten years.

"Now, we are working on a garland for tomorrow's celebration. It will have 4 - feet height and will be 6 inches thick," says A. Sathyaraj, a worker.

"Everyday the dimensions and flowers will differ according to the celebration," he says. 

Surya Vattam vahanam is all set for tomorrow's procession

The Surya Vattam which is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 8.30 a.m. has been polished and is readied for tomorrow's procession. 

A video of the flag hoisting ceremony

Here is a video of the flag hoisting ceremony which took place today morning. The video was taken by Kalyani Muralidharan, a resident of C. I. T. Colony, Mylapore.