Thousands of devotees witnessed annabishekam performed for Siva Linga in the temples in the region on Friday. The annabishekam, adorning the Sivalinga with cooked rice, and then distributing that as prasadam to the devotees usually takes place on the Aippasi Pournami day.
Devotees thronged the Sri Brihadeeswarar temples in Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district and Thanjavur since morning. The Annabhishekam committee from Sri Kanchi Mutt has been making arrangements for the ritual for the past three decades at Gangaikondacholapuram and about 100 bags of rice were used. ‘Maha deeparadanai’ was also performed. At the Big Temple in Thanjavur about 1,000 kg of rice and 100 kg vegetables were used for the purpose.