Devotees Brave Nadi Heat to Attend 10-Day Festival
The Nadi heat failed to dampen the spirit of thousands devotees during the 2020 Annual Vaarshika Thaipoosam Thirunaal Festival at the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple yesterday.
Lovu pujari (Hindu priest) Vishwa Nadan was part of the auspicious prayer rituals where his body was pierced with the metals and dragged a cart of the deities.
“I have been coming every year, to attend the festival. This year I have decided to be part of the journey for the 10 days festival myself,” he said. Mr Nadan added that the temple played a significant role in their family circles.
Temple manageress, Sandhiya Krishna, said yesterday’s pooja (prayer ritual) attracted thousands of devotees to the temple offering prayers for the happiness and spiritual good of themselves and their families.
“We continue to have devotees coming in from all over the world just for this annual event, and it’s one of the most important prayer occasions celebrated in our calendar,” she said.
She said that on Friday 6000 people were at the temple, where members of the Dervasthanam board as well as kind donors dedicated hours of preparation to facilitate the huge number of people who will attend the pooja daily.
“Today we noticed between 8000 and 10,000 from the morning to the night as the pooja continues,” said Ms Krishna.
It is believed that Goddess Parvati presented a lance to Lord Murugan to vanquish the demon army of Tarakasura and combat their evil deeds. Therefore Thaipoosam is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
The Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple in Nadi being the largest Temple in the South Pacific, attracted devotees from all regions including tourists as well.
This year I have decided to be part of the journey for the 10-day festival, myself.
Vishwa Nadan
Lovu pujari (priest)