Nellaiappar Temple is an ancient popular Shiva Temple situated in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Nellaiappar and his consort Ma Parvati is worshipped as Kanthimathi Amman. The temple is situated on the banks of the sacred River Thamirabarani. This temple was glorified by the Nayanmar Saints during the 7th century AD, and their divine songs on Lord Nellaiyappar were mentioned in the Shaivite Holy Text, Tevaram.
The Car festival event of Sri Nellayappar Gandhimathi Amman Temple was held in Tirunelveli on Friday, June 21, 2024.
The much-celebrated Aani car festival of Swami Nellaiyappar Gandhimathi Ambal Temple here, which would attract thousands of devotees every year, began on a difficult drive, as three ropes of the car got snapped when the car was drawn at 7.18 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024.
As part of the Aani festival, the foremost celebration of Swami Nellaiyappar Gandhimathi Ambal, the cars of Swami Nellaiyappar, Gandhimathi Ambal, Vinayagar and Subramaniyar would be drawn along the four car streets around the 2000-year-old shrine during the Tamil month ‘Aani’ every year. The cars would reach the station on the same day with thousands of devotees drawing the cars, especially the imposing Swami Nellaiyappar car, the third largest wooden car of Tamil Nadu after Thiruvarur and Srivilliputhur temple cars, which was made in the year 1505 CE.
Even though the car was made with 13 decks, it was later reduced to 9 decks 25 years ago as the devotees struggled a lot while turning the car in the sharp curves of the car streets. Later again, it was reduced to 5 decks.
As the exuberant devotees drew the car, three of the four ropes connected to Swami Nellaiyappar car snapped suddenly, much to the disappointment of the devotees. Even though the officials brought immediately another rope to continue the car festival at 8.20 a.m., one of the four ropes snapped again immediately and it was decided to draw the car with three ropes. However, one more rope got snapped to stall the car festival for the third time within an hour, even as the car had reached the spot between Swami and Ambal sannidhi on the East Car Street.
But anyhow the devotees witnessed the beautiful view of the deities on the occasion of the car festival event.
“OM SRI NELLAIAPPANE NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR