The nine-day Mahamaham festival, known as the 'Kumbh Mela of the south', concluded In Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu on Monday, with conduct of the most important event 'theerthavari', witnessed by lakhs of people.
The theerthavari event is considered the most sacred to take a holy dip in the Mahamaham tank.
The police said more than five lakh people took a holy dip in the tank on Monday. Since February 13, more than 25 lakh people have taken a holy dip as part of the festival, which falls once in 12 years.
Official sources said deities from 12 Shiva temples were taken in a procession to the banks of the tank and pujas were performed before the Theerthavari was held.
Heads of various 'mutts' participated in the ceremony, they said.
At nearby Chakarapadithurai, deities from five Vaishnava temples were taken in a procession to the banks of the river Cauvery, pujas performed and Theerthavari ritual held there also, the officials said.
Meanwhile, a Rameswaram report said thousands of devotees offered prayers during theerthavari at the 'Jatamakuda theertham' in the island town on the auspicious Masimakam day.
The priests, who conducted Theerthavari for lord Shiva and goddess Parvathavarthini after special poojas to Sri Ramanathaswamy and goddess Parvathavarthini, brought the deities to the tank at 12 noon when the theerthavari was held.
The deities left Sri Ramanathaswamy at 7 am and reached the tank at 12 am.
The officials said around 1 lakh devotees were present at the venue.
The water from the tank was sprinkled on the devotees after the theerthavari (bathing of deities) function.
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