5 months ago
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The 469th solemnisation of the Santhanakoodu festival astatine the Nagore Dargah, culminated with the Periya Kandhuri procession successful the aboriginal hours of Monday morning, with devotees thronging the shrine contempt the incessant rainfall successful the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
Among those spotted paying homage astatine the shrine connected Monday was euphony composer A.R. Rahman, wearing a reddish turban. His accomplishment astatine the Dargah by an autorickshaw created a buzz.
The 14-day festival commemorates the decease day of the Sufi saint Abdul Qadir, with the item being the exertion of specially prepared sandalwood paste connected his sedate (known arsenic Rowla Sharif) by the Dargah Kalifa, the hereditary caput cleric.
On Sunday, the sandalwood paste, kept successful a decorated float, was brought ceremoniously down the streets of the coastal municipality successful a procession, arsenic people drummers and Sufi singers marched on the ‘santhanakoodu,’ precocious into the night.
Sources astatine the shrine said that the procession had initially been delayed due to the fact that of a tussle betwixt the percussionists and singers of assorted bands, that was resolved with the involution of section authorities.
On Monday astir 5 a.m., Kalifa Masthan Sahib Qadri, the hereditary caput cleric of the Dargah, was escorted by the members of the Nagapattinam Muslim Jamaat to the shrine, wherever helium anointed the Rowla Sharif with sandal paste.
Administrators of the Dargah aboriginal distributed the remaining beatified paste among the assembled worshippers.
Approximately 1,200 constabulary unit were deployed crossed Nagore and Nagapattinam for the duration of the festival. Personnel from Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Mayiladuthurai districts were roped successful to fortify the information grid.
The yearly festival attracts ample fig of devotees from Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, and Indian diaspora from abroad. This year, the turnout mightiness person been affected due to the fact that of the inclement weather, sources said.
