Historic Trinco temple chariot festival draws large crowd

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2003, 23:28 GMT]
Several thousand devotees from all parts of the island participated at the Chariot (Ther) festival of the historic Trincomalee Pathirakali Ambal Temple held Monday. Three chariots were taken in procession around the temple while devotees chanted 'Arohara,' sources said.

Devotees perform religious rite ’Angaprathashanam’.

Hindus and Buddhists in the country revere the Trincomalee Pathirakali Ambal temple.

The chief deity of the temple, Goddess Pathirakali Ambal, was carried in the big chariot, which followed two small chariots carrying deities Pilliayar and Murugan. Hundreds of devotees performed a religious rite called ‘Angapirathshnam’ behind the big chariot carrying the chief deity.

The chief priest and the head of the Pathirakali Temple Bramasiri'Vethakamamamani' S.Ravichandrakurukkal officiated at the Chariot festival.

The annual festival (Mahotsavam) of the temple commenced on March 8. With the water cutting ceremony (Theertham festival) scheduled to be held on Tuesday, the annual festival of the temple will come to a close, sources said.