Tamil Nadu: Villagers celebrate centuries-old fishing festival in Melur

Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 1 : The famous and centuries-old fishing festival was celebrated at Tamil Nadu's Melur on Saturday.
A large number of people from five villages near Melur gathered at the Kallandhiri village to celebrate the traditional fishing festival.
The fish caught by the villagers are offered to the deity for better harvest and health. The festival is celebrated every year with the onset of the summer season.
Last month, 'Vaikasi Visakam' festival was celebrated with a chariot procession in Vadapalani Murugar Temple in Vadapalani, a neighbourhood area of Chennai city. The festival started on May 13, with the hoisting of flags.
The grand Vaikasi Visakam festival was celebrated by Tamilians to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Murugan, and it attracts thousands of devotees every year.
Lord Murugan, also known as Kartikeya, Skanda, or Subrahmanya, has six faces and mounts on a peacock. It is said that Kartikeya was born to kill the demon Tarkasura. He gives protection to all the deities and his devotees who worship him with immense devotion and pure intentions.
The chariot procession witnessed a large and dense crowd of devotees throughout the event. Devotees were spotted playing different musical instruments in the spirit of devotion, whereas some devotees were addressing their prayers to the god.
As part of the 'Vaikasi Visakam' festival, eighteen types of special 'Abhishekam' and decorative 'Deeparathan' were performed for 'Moolavar' and 'Parivar Murthys' at Sornamalai Kathirvel Murugan temple in Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu on May 22.
As per Hindu Scriptures, Vaikasi Visakam holds great significance among Hindus. This festival is mainly celebrated in South India.