Painguni Uthram celebrated at Ayyappa temples

The auspicious Painguni Uthram, believed to be the birth star of Lord Ayyappa, was celebrated at the Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple at Old Sivalayam, One Town with religious fervor here on Wednesday.

Devotees started arriving to the temple since 5 am to participate in morning rituals, which began with performing of the Maha Ganapathi homam in the morning followed by the usha pooja and `abhishekam'.

The tantri, Muralidharan Namboodri, performed the `kalabhabhishekom' by pouring milk, curd, turmeric paste, honey, coconut water and finally sandalwood paste on the Ayyappa idol. ‘Poolabhishekam’ was also performed to the deity after lighting of traditional oil lamps in rows in Kerala style.

Meanwhile, the celebrations were held on a grand note at Gollapudi and Singhnagar in Vijayawada and Sitanagaram at Tadepalli in Guntur district. At several places Guru Swami’s offered annadanam to the devotees.

Later in the evening, Padi puja was performed at Ayyappa Swamy temple, Singh Nagar with amidst chants of ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’, deeparathana was performed to the 18 steps leading to tastefully decorated shrines of Lord Ayyappa, Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya made out of plantain bark.