States » SouthPosted at: Nov 15 2026 5:40PM


Lakhs witness Soorasamharam event in Tiruchendur Murugan temple

Chennai, Nov 15 (UNI) It was a sea of humanity as lakhs of devotess from across India and abroad congregated on the shores of Bay of Bengal and witnessed the divinely 'Soorasamharam" (slaying of demons) event at the world famous Lord Subramania Swamy temple at Tiruchendur, one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, in the southern coastal Thoothukudi district on Sunday evening.
The 'Sorasamharam' event maked the culmination of the annual six-day Kandha Sashti festival being celebrated by Tamil Hindu devotees worshipping Lord Muruga and the festival was marked by penance and prayers.
Several devotees as part of fulfillment of their vow, pierced their cheeks using lancerns (Vel) as an offering to the God.
The decorated idol of Lord Jayantinadhar (Murugan) was taken in a procession amid religious fervour from the temple to the seashore where the Lord, amid chanting of Vedic hymns, annihilated the demons Gajamugasuran, Singamugasuran and Soorapadman, who took different guises, with his lance, as per myth, as the chants of "Muruganukku Arohara...Kanthanukku arogara", raised the decibel level by several notches on the beach front.
Special poojas and special Deeparadhana were performed to the deity on the occasion.
Soorasamharam was celebrated on the sixth day of the auspicious Kandha Sashti fest. Devotees began their fast on the premises of Subramaniya Swami temple when the Kanda Sashti yagasala puja started on November 10. Following viswaroopa deeparadhana and udhaya marthanda abhishekam, the yagasala puja started.
On Sunday the last day, the rituals started at 1 a.m. early in the morning and other traditional ceremonies were performed till the Soorasamharam was held at around 1730 hrs when the Lord annihilated the demon king with the Vel (spear) given by his mother
Goddess Parvathi. After deeparadhana at Santhosha mandapam, Lord Muruga was taken out in a procession for Soorasamharam.
The Soorasamharam event will be followed by Thirukalyanam (celestial wedding) tomorrow bringing the curtains down on the six-day festival.
It was a sea of humanity on the sea shore in front of the temple, as the temple town, the second of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, wore
a festive look on the occasion and the temple towers were illuminated, as part of the traditional Kanda Shasti festival being conducted annually.
Lakhs of devotees, who observed Viratham and came in various modes of transport, including hundreds of them on Padayatra, took a holy dip at the sea and offered prayers.
The Tamil Nadu government and Southern Railways operated special buses and trains for the benefit of pilgrims from various parts of the state.
Police have made massive security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the event. More than 5,000 police personnel were deployed on security duty, watch towers were erected on the beach front to monitor the crowd situation and fishing boats with trained fishermen were kept in readiness to atttend any incidents of drowning in sea.
Police have also installed CCTV cameras at many places. Check-posts were erected at more than 20 locations in and around Tiruchendur to regulate the traffic and LED screens were also installed on the beach front and other vital installations to enable the devotees to witness the divine event.
Temporary bus stands were also set up around Tiruchendur and a strong contingent of police personnel were deployed at vital junctions to avoid traffic snarls.
The district administration has made all basic amenities for the benefit of the teeming devotees who had started arrving right from last night for the event.
Though Soorasamharam is enacted in all the historic temples dedicated to Lord Muruga across the state --it holds special significance at Lord Subramania Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur.
UNI GV 1730
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