Chennai: Fervour marks Vaikunta Ekadasi festival

Chennai: Religious fervour was at its peak during the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival on Sunday and the devotees thronged Vaishnavite temples across the state to have a darshan of the deity when the Paramapadavasal (the gateway to heaven) was opened.

In the city’s ancient Vaishnavite shrine, Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple, eulogised by the Alwars, was opened to the devotees as early as 2.30 am in the day.

Darshan of the Moolavar, who graces along with his family members was facilitated for the devotees continuously till 11.30 pm. The Paramapadavasal at the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple was opened at 4.30 am. There was a steady trickle of devotees throughout the day and loud chants of “Govinda” and “Venkata Krishna” by the devotees filled the air during the auspicious occasion of opening the temple doors.

Later in the night after Thirumanjanam, the Utsava deity of Lord Parthasarathy was taken out in a grand procession at midnight. The Vaikunta Ekadasi festival at the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple held on the 11th day of waxing phase of moon in Tamil month of Margazhi is an important ritual on the day as the Swargavasal is opened. The devotees patiently waited their turn to have a glimpse of the Lord passing through the Paramapadavasal.

This particular entry point to the sanctum sanctorum is opened only on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day. The festivities associated with this grand event are spread over 21 days. The first ten days, culminating with the Mohini Avataram is known as Pagalpathu and then Vaikunta Ekadasi is observed. The ten days preceding the Ekadasi festival is referred to as Rapathu.