The Varadaraja Perumal Temple is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnavites.(devotees Lord Vishnu). The festival had began a week or so earlier, idols of Lord Vishnu and his consort Laksmi are brought by their temple Brahmins from all over Tamil Nadu to reside for a period in the main temple with the main idol. During this period attending darshan is deemed to be very auspicious under the eyes of the many Lord Vishnus. Tonight is the end of this period and the idols with much pageant and splendour are carried out of the main temple, and make their way through the temples grounds and further onto the streets of Kanchipuram accompanied by chants and incense back to their own temples.

We were told during an earlier visit by one of the temple Brahmins that tonight would be a special celebration and invited to come back. How could we miss this opportunity. Arriving at the temple, we were spotted, (not difficult being the only tourist) and pushed forward to the front to watch and enjoy the spectacle.

I hope that this series gives you and idea of how it was.

Brahmins from the various temples wait eagerly for the sign that it is time to enter the inner sanctum and bring their respective idols back home.