Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruverkadu – Festivals
The
temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Kalasanthi at 6:00 a.m., Irandam
Kalam at 9:00 a.m., Uchi Kalam at
12:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m, Irandam Kalam at
7:30 p.m., and Arthajamam at 9:00 p.m. Each ritual
comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of
lamps) for Vedapureeswarar and Verkanni. There are weekly rituals like Somavaram
(Monday) and Sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like Pradosham, and monthly festivals like Ammavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, Pournami (full moon day) and Sathurthi.
Maha Shivarathri
in February-March; Navarathri in September-October; Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in
December-January and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals
celebrated in the temple. A festival dedicated to Nayanar is celebrated on the
Kruthika star day in Karthikai-November-December-month. On the full moon night
in the month of Chittirai (Aries), festival images of deities from 7 Shiva
temples in the vicinity converge nearby in procession. Other festivals include
Vinayaka Chaturthi, Aadi Pooram, Aippasi Pournami, Skanda Sashti, Karthikai
Deepam, Arudra Dharisanam, Tai Poosam, Maasi Magam, Panguni Uthiram and Vaikasi
Visakam.
