Samayapuram Float Festival

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple   - Chithirai Ther Thiruvizha (Chariot Festival in the month of Chithirai - April)   The town of Samayapuram is located near Trichy, on the National Highway-45 about 300 KM south of the State capital, Chennai. The town is known for the ancient temple dedicated to ArulmiguSamayapurathal or Mariamman, a form of the supreme goddess Durga or Shakthi or Kali. Thousands of devotees flock this temple permeating immense religious fervour&they deeply believe that deity is regarded as a supreme power to cure diseases.In fact, people buy small metallic replicas of troubling human body parts and donate it to the temple to seek divine intervention in healing.Samayapuram Temple is also one of the wealthiest temples of Tamil Nadu garnering great incomes for the Government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Trust.    One of the major festivals of this temple is the Chithirai Ther Thiruvizha, which is annuallycelebrated for a period of 13 days beginning on the 1st Tuesday of Tamil month Chithirai. The Ther (Chariot) procession is conducted on day-10, during which the chariot with the Goddess will be towed by devotees, who visit turn up in lakhs. Sources have estimated this year’s footfall during the festival to be over 3 lakhs.             During the Chariot Festival, a heavy posse of police personnel are deployed at Samayapuram& its vicinity to regulate the crowd& traffic. Vehiclesare stopped a kilometre away from the temple & also not allowed to go into the town - the devotees must go to the temple by walk only. The Government always takes valiant efforts to maintain the huge influx of pilgrims, still it is not easy. Strict following of traffic movement rules helps a lot for the smooth movement, &avoids any complications associated with large crowds.   The Local Government usually arrangea ‘Special Bus Stand’, which is about a kilometre away from Samayapuramtemple. All the Buses as well as all the other vehicles halt here at this location, & then the pilgrims must proceed on foot to the temple. The 4-lanedevelopment of the National Highway-45 has helped to ease traffic congestion to a considerable extent. Onward traffic can take the flyover, while those going to Samayapuram for Darshan can take the Service Lane which leads to the Temple.   There are 24-hours bus services to nearby cities like, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Thuraiyur, Thanjavur as well as to all nearby small towns, during the Chithirai Chariot Festival & other special occasions here. Additionally, continuous Town Bus service is provided with a sole purpose of interconnecting Samayapuram Tollgate (Salem-Trichy main road junction), Chatram Bus Stand & Central Bus Stand. Throughout festival days, it is a common sight to see Tamil Nadu Police, NCC, Scouts & Guides (school &college students)managing huge crowd sin & around Samayapuram town, including the Temple premises.   The Chithirai Festival concludes during the last week of April followed by theTheppam Festival.           Witness the auspicious Chariot Festival in Samayapuram and feel the vivification!