Crowds witness immersion of ’Kambams’ during Mariamman temple festival

Annual festival procession of sacred stems from Mariamman temples in the city, culminating in immersion ceremony at Karavaikal.

Thousands of people gathered to witness the procession of three kambams (sacred stems) that had been planted in front of the three Mariamman temples in the city as part of the annual festival. The stems were later removed and immersed at Karavaikal on Saturday evening.

The sacred stems were planted outside the Periya Mariamman, Chinna Mariamman, and Vaikkal Mariamman temples, and devotees offered prayers for over a week. At 3 p.m., all three stems were simultaneously removed and brought to Manikoondu amid tight security. During the procession, people from across the city celebrated by splashing water mixed with turmeric powder on one another. The stems were carried through key roads in the city before reaching Karavaikal, where it was immersed.

The district police had put elaborate security arrangements in place to ensure a peaceful procession, with traffic diversions in place till the end of the procession.