RAMANATHAPURAM: TAMIL NADU: 02 Janavery 2026: Devotees waiting in a long queue at Thiru Uthirakosamangai temple in Ramanathapuram district on Friday. On the occasion of ‘Arudra darshan’. Photo: L. Balachandar / The Hindu
| Photo Credit: BALACHANDAR L
On the occasion of the ‘Arudra darshan’ festival held here on Friday at Sri Mangalanatha Swamy Temple at Thiru Uthirakosamangai, the removal of sandalwood paste for abhishekam took place. Thousands of devotees stood in long queues to worship Lord Nataraja, who appeared in his natural form Thirumeni.
The annual Arudra Darshan festival for the six-foot-tall emerald (Maragada Natarajar) idol, carved from a single green emerald stone, is highly renowned in the State. To protect the emerald statue, it is coated with sandalwood paste (Santhana-kaapu) throughout the year and remains protected.
Special abishekam being performed to the Maragatha Natarajar idol at Sri Mangalanatha Swamy Temple at Thiru Uthirakosamangai in Ramanathapuram district on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
BALACHANDAR L
Therefore, the ceremony of removing this sandalwood coating for abhishekam is unique to this temple. The Arudra Darshan festival began with the Kaapu-kattu ritual on December 25, said temple authorities.
On Friday morning, the removal of sandalwood paste for abhishekam of the presiding idol Nataraja began after 8:30 AM, followed by the Maha Abhishekam at 8:45 AM.
Subsequently, 33 types of abhishekams were performed until 10:15 AM, after which a special Deeparadhana (lamp offering) was held. Following this, Lord Nataraja appeared in his natural form without the sandalwood coating. As the idol is seen this way only on one day a year, thousands of devotees waited in queues to offer worship.
Between 1 A.M. and 2 A.M. after midnight, the Arudra Maha Abhishekam will be performed for the presiding deity. Following this, early on January 3, fresh sandalwood paste would be applied to Lord Nataraja, followed by the decoration and lamp offerings.
After 5 P.M, abhishekams for the Panchamoorthis will be held, and after 8:00 PM, the festival would conclude with a vision granted to Saint Manickavasagar, followed by the final Deeparadhana.
To witness the sandalwood removal ceremony, devotees began waiting in queues from the early hours. More than 1,000 police personnel were deployed for security duties. Special buses were operated to Thiru Uthirakosamangai from areas including Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Paramakudi, Rameswaram, and Keelakarai.
Published – January 02, 2026 09:08 pm IST
