Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, Samayapuram – Festivals
Thai Poosam Festival – Thai Month:
Thai
Poosam Festival is being celebrated in grand full manner for 11days. The deity
is being taken in procession daily both in morning and evening in different
Vahanams. The deity is being taken in procession on Silver Horse Vahanam, on
eighth day night and in Theppam (Floating Festival) on Ninth day night. On 10th
day i.e., on Thai Poosam the deity in taken in procession from Samayapuram to
North Cauvery (Coloroon) near Srirangam in glass palanquin for Theerthavari (taking
bath) where goddess Mariamman is being honoured by Lord Sriranganatha by
Presenting Seer Varisai (Gifts) to his sister Mariamman. On the 11th
day, the deity returns from Coloroon to Samayapuram and the festival ends.
Poochoridal (Flower Sprinkling Festival) – Masi Month:
The Poochoridal
Festival takes place on the last Sunday of month Masi. During Poochoridal lot
of beautiful flowers of various kinds are being Sprinkled on the Moolavar
deity. More than a lakh of devotee’s visits to this temple for sprinkling
flowers and to have Holy Dharshan of the Goddess. The festival is spread over
to 4 weeks i.e., four Sundays during the month of Masi and Panguni and
sprinkling of flowers are being offered every Sunday. The special feature of
this festival is that the Goddess herself adopts fast for 28 days for the
welfare of her devotees. During these 28 days cooked food will not be offered
as neivedhyam, to the deity. Only simple rice flour, tender Coconut, Sugar
Candy, Jaggery water, Butter Milk, alone are being offered as Neivedhyam and
Prasadam.
Chitrai Festival – Panguni - Chithirai Months:
This grand
festival is being celebrated for 13 days. On the first Tuesday in the Month of
Chitrai, i.e., on 10th day of festival, Goddess Mariamman is being
taken in a decorated wooden car and pulled around the temple. This is called as
Chitrai Ther festival. On Friday. i.e., on 13th day of festival the
Goddess is being seated in a decorated float (Theppam) and pulled around the
central Mandapam of Theppakulam. This is called float Festival. During these
festivals devotees gather in large numbers offering their Prarthanas such as
taking Agni Chatti, Milk Pot and Kavadi and Tonsuring their heads etc.
During
the Chariot Festival, no vehicle is allowed to go inside Samayapuram Town and
all the vehicles are stopped one Kilometer away from the Town and everybody
have to go to the temple by walk. The Crowd is so much, though the Government
made so many arrangements, still it is un-manageable. Luckily for Devotees,
nowadays, they are following the traffic rule of left side walking in the road.
This helps a lot for the smooth movement, which avoids any complications
associated with big crowds.
Still
you will find that so many children missing, which is being announced during
the festival time in the loud speakers. During the Chariot Festival time, the
Local Government arranges a ‘Special Bus Stand’, which is one Kilometer away
from the Samayapuram Town. All the Buses and any other 2 / 3 / 4 wheelers are
stopped there only. The vehicles which are going beyond Samayapuram in NH-45
will only be allowed with a little bit delay.
The 4
laning of the National Highway 45 has helped to ease traffic congestion to a
considerable extent. Onward traffic can take the flyover, while those going to
Samayapuram for Darshan can take the Service Lane which leads to the Temple. For
festival days, during the Chithirai Chariot Festivals, there are 24 hours bus
services to nearby places like, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Thuraiyur, Thanjavur
and other nearby Small Towns. Further, there are continuous Town Bus Services
provided which mainly connect to Tollgate (Salem-Trichy main road junction),
Chatram Bus Stand and Central Bus Stand.
Pancha Prakaram – Chitrai - Vaikasi Months:
This
festival spread over for 15 days. The Festival starts on the first day of the
month Vaikasi. On 10th day of Festival, special Maha Abishekam will
take place.
Navarathri Festival – Purattasi Month:
This
festival starts from New Moon of the Month Purattasi i.e., from Mahalaya
Ammavasai and spread over for 9 days. The deity will be seated in Navarathri
Mandapam for Golu.
Other Festivals:
All the
Fridays in the Tamil months of Aadi (July 15 – Aug17) and Thai (Jan 15 – Feb
15) are celebrated in a grand manner. Also, Tamil and English New Year days,
Pongal and Deepavali are observed with special pujas. While usually the crowd
is big in all days, it is particularly more on Tuesdays and Fridays. Several
worship services are offered throughout the day here. Offerings of salt,
jaggery (brown sugar), lentils, jewelry are made by devotees. During the
Festival days we can see that, the Tamil Nadu Police, NCC, Scout (School and
College Students) Controlling the Crowd everywhere including the Temple
premises.
