Nammakal (Tamil Nadu), Jul 28 (PTI) In a unique tradition believed to be over 100 years old, over 10,000 men thronged the Pongalayi Amman temple in Malaiyampatti village near here to take part in a men-only temple festival, marked by prayers, rituals and a community feast.
The festivities began on Monday night with special pujas, floral decorations and the maha deeparathanai (grand ceremonial offering of lamps) to Lord Vinayaga and the presiding deity, Pongalayi Amman.
Following the rituals, a female goat was ceremonially sacrificed, followed by the sacrifice of 225 male goats offered by devotees in fulfilment of their vows, sources said.
Preparations for the community feast continued through the night, with about 3,000 kg of mutton and more than 500 kg of rice used to feed the devotees.
Thousands of male devotees from Namakkal, Salem, Karur, Tiruchirappalli and Dharmapuri queued up to partake in the feast.
According to local folklore, the tradition dates back more than a century to an incident in which villagers allegedly failed to help a pregnant woman during heavy rains.
Before dying, she is believed to have cursed the village, following which women stopped participating in the annual event.
Devotees believe that offering prayers to the deity helps remove obstacles to marriage. PTI SNR ADB SSK
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