CHENNAI, INDIA, September 15, 2007: Hindus in Tamil Nadu celebrated Vinayaka Chaturthi, birthday of Lord Ganesha, with religious fervour by invoking the blessings of the elephant-headed Deity. Special poojas, abishekams and Maha Ganapathy homam were performed in various temples of the state. Hundreds of devotees visited temples and offered worship. The innumerable temples of the Deity were tastefully decorated and illuminated to mark the occasion. Vedic hymns of the God were played in almost all the temples. People made Kozhukattai (a favorite dish of Lord Ganesha made of rice and jaggery) and offered worship, before sharing it with their Muslim and Christian brethren.
Deities of the Lord, in various sizes, have been installed across the state as part of the celebrations. The Deitys would be taken out in a procession and immersed in the Bay of Bengal next week.
A report from Madurai said hundreds of devotees congregated at the historic Mukkuruni Vinayaka temple, a famous shrine inside Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, from the early hours to offer prayers. The presiding deity was adorned with Velli Kavasam (silver robe) on the occasion. The unique feature of the festival was that a giant Kozhukkattai, weighing about 20 kg, was offered to the Deity. It was later distributed as prasadam to the devotees. Similarly, hundreds of devotees thronged the famous Sri Karpaga Vinayaka temple at Pillaiyarpatti in Sivaganga district.