Vinayagar Chaturthi Festival at Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Pillayarpatti

Vinayagar Chaturthi the birth of Lord Vinayagar Ganesha is celebrated every year in the month of Aavani in between August and September This occasion is celebrated in a grandiose ceremony lasting 10 days at the Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar Temple Pillayarpatti The temple is located in the Sivagangai district and was constructed on top of a rockcut cave during the 7th century The presiding deity Lord Vinayagar is sculpted with his Tumbikkaitrunk curved to the right with two hands which is a unique representation of the deity that is found only in two locations on the globe On the first day of the festival the temple commemorates the celebration with Kappukattu announcing the beginning of the festival by the hoisting of the holy flag The festive occasion includes special poojas and homams along with traditional music programmes including nadhaswaram isai and thavil isai The devotees throng at the temple to offer the presiding deity his favourite sweet kozhakattai a dish made up of rice and jaggeryDuring the day and at night Lord Vinayaga is carried in a procession through the streets in which he is enthroned on various vahanamsvehicles each day On the final day of the festival the sculpted idol of Lord Ganesha is taken in a procession around the temple with thousands of devotees surrounding the area to offer prayers and add glory to His name The people of the state also celebrate the festival by bringing home the idols of Lord Vinayagar and worship him by offering modaks sweets and savouries