Thiruchendur Murugan Temple –
Masi Festival
The Thiruchendur Brahmotsavam of Masi during
February-March each year wherein all the three temple cars are dragged and the
festival is conducted for twelve days, concluding with a Theppam or Float
Festival, is much esteemed throughout Tamil Nadu.
It is particularly an occasion for jubilation, as one
and all and especially those who could not till recently enter the temple
precincts can have his darshan which is so dear to the heart of his bhaktas.
The Pacchai Sathupadi or the floral decoration
of the deity in all green on the eighth morning is especially one which none
would wish to miss in the festival.
On the tenth day of the festival, the temple priests and
devotees pull the temple car on the car streets of the temple. Three cars are
pulled by the devotees in the car festival. The proceedings, which commence at
7.30 a.m., continue until 11.30 p.m.
The Theppam float on the 11th day concludes the Masi
festival. These are huge attractions for all the country folk around, who come
in large numbers and participate in dragging, and bringing them to their
stands.
The great Masi Festival begins at the Thiruvizha
Mandapam in Thiruchendur town from where Devasthanam priests ceremonially bring
the Masi festival flag in procession on elephant-back throughout the town and
to the Devasthanam where, early the next morning, it is raised on the kodi
maram (temple flag pole) amid much pomp and colorful ceremony.
The Masi festival is noteworthy also for the reason
that during most of the days, popular discourses on religion are arranged to be
given by scholars of merit and also musical performances, in furtherance of the
cultural advancement of the congregation, propagation of religious knowledge,
and the resuscitation of arts.