The gates of heaven were opened at the Srirangam Ranganathar Temple on the eve of the Vaikunda Ekadasi festival.
Record: December 14, 2021 06:22
AM
Srirangam,
The Vaikunda Ekadasi festival at the Srirangam temple is usually held in the month of March. The Vaikunda Ekadasi festival is held only once in 19 years in the month of Karthika and the gates of heaven are opened. Accordingly, the Vaikunda Ekadasi festival at the Srirangam temple in the month of Karthika this year started with the last 3-day Thirunedunandakam program. During the daytime festivities, it is customary for Namperumal to wake up every day at the Arjuna Mandapam in every attire.
Similarly every day Namperumal wakes up in different attire and serves the devotees. On the 10th day of the daytime festival, Namperumal Nachiyar blessed the awakened devotees in the Mohini attire known as Tirukkolam.
In this case, the main event of the festival, the opening of the Gate of Heaven took place at 4.45 am today. Following this, at 3.30 am, Namperumal departed from the Moolasthan wearing various jewels including Ratna Angi, Pandian Kondai and Kilimalai and circled the Rajamakendran Gate. The gates of heaven are open only today in Srirangam. Thus a local holiday has been declared in Srirangam.
Devotees from all over the world have come to Srirangam to witness this festival. Security has been beefed up around the temple and more than 2,000 police have been deployed. High towers have been set up around the Srirangam temple and are being monitored in a makeshift control room fitted with surveillance cameras.
Like last year, it has been announced that this year too, in order to prevent the spread of corona, devotees will be allowed through the Ranga Ranga tower from 7 am to 9 am, following the guidelines of the government.