Thousands of devotees participated in the Rathothsavam' as part of the annual Kartheeka Brahmotsavams at the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanur on Monday.
They enthusiastically dragged the flower-decked wooden chariot, with the presiding deity, Goddess Padmavathi, seated in it, through the four Mada streets around the Pushkarini (temple tank). Earlier, at 5.20 a.m. the priests performed the sacrificial rituals to the chariot and brought out the deity in a procession to the `Ratha Mandapam,' the starting point of the chariot-ride.
`Ratharohanam,' the process of seating the deity on the chariot was performed in the auspicious hours of `Vruschika Lagnam.' At 7.15 a.m., the officials signalled to the devotees to start pulling the huge rope connected to the chariot, and the gigantic vehicle slowly started rolling down the streets.