Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam: A cleansing ritual for Tiruchanoor's Goddess

This purification ceremony paves the way for the temple’s annual Pavitrotsavams, a significant religious festival scheduled to begin on September 16.

The cleansing ritual, performed between 6 am and 9 am, involved a thorough purification of the main shrine and its associated sub-shrines.

Priests and temple staff carried out the process using a fragrant mixture called Parimalam, following a long-standing tradition.The cleansing encompassed the temple’s walls, roof slabs, puja vessels, and other sacred objects.

A special aromatic paste prepared from ingredients such as Srichurnam, Namakommu, Kasturi (musk), turmeric, camphor, sandalwood powder, Kichligadda, and perfumed water was applied to the surfaces and vessels, creating a spiritually uplifting atmosphere for devotees.

The upcoming Pavitrotsavams will run from September 16 to 18. A preparatory ritual, Ankurarpanam, will commence on September 15. The main events of the festival, including Pavitra Pratista, Pavitra Samarpana, and Pavitra Purnahuti, will take place on the following three days. During this time, temple priests symbolically seek the Goddess’s forgiveness for any unintentional errors that may have occurred in their daily rituals throughout the year.