Agni
Nakshatram is a 14-day period in May, the hottest part of
the year. It is the season when devout persons go round
the hill in the Giri Veedi as much out of faith as for reasons
of health, in the early morning (1 am. to 10 a.m.) and evening
(4 to 10 pm) in large numbers. Just now, the kadamba trees
(Eugenia Racemosa), favourite flora of Muruga, are in full
bloom all around the hill shedding their fragrance and conveying
healing properties to all the walkers.
At
Kodumudi (Periyar District), ardent devotees by the thousands
collect Cauvery water in scorching sun and bring it in kavadis
for abhishekam of the deity and the sanctum sanctorum at
the hill is a large pool of water! It is so cool that one
forgets the summer-heat. The water bearers are accompanied
by artistes in a variety of folk-music and folkdance items.
Their procession by itself is colorful and difficult to
forget.
On
the concluding day, the festival deity of the Periyanâyaki
Temple marches to the Adivaram and there is a majestic procession
round Giri Veedi.
