Religious fervour marks temple purification ritual

Ahead of the annual Brahmotsavams at Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple, the traditional temple cleansing festival – Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam — was performed with religious fervour here on Wednesday.

During the ceremony, all the idols and other articles were removed from sanctum sanctorum and the entire garbhagriham (including floors, ceilings and walls) was cleaned with water.

Later, the priests smeared the whole place with kumkum, camphor, sandal paste, and turmeric followed by purifactory rituals and offered ‘naivedyam’ to the deity. The entire ceremony was performed as per the tenets of Vaikhanasa Agama. Meanwhile, ‘Beejavapanam’ fête for the annual Brahmotsavams at the temple will be observed on February 16.