Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Apr 22 (Reporter) Thousands of devotees from various parts of the country participated in the annual “Chithirai Therottam” (temple car festival) of the World-renowned Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple that was held as part of the ongoing 12-day annual Chithirai Brahmotsavam festival, on Monday. Religious fervour permeated the temple town as devotees in thousands congregated in the wee hours to participate in the event. The procession of idols of Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Piriyavidai mounted on an aesthetically decorated bigger wooden car and the deity of goddess Meenakshi mounted on a smaller wooden car began from the East Masi Street this morning. The devotees pulled the wooden cars through the East, South, West and North Masi streets around the temple, amidst chanting of “Hara Hara Sankara, Meenakshi Sundara.” Small wooden cars carrying the idols of Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga and the Nayanmars were also pulled by the devotees. It took nearly six hours for the temple cars to return to their base. The temple car festival celebrated in the Tamil month of “Chithirai” is one of the important events at the temple attracting devotees from various parts of the State. Around 5,000 policemen were deployed around the procession route to ensure that the temple cars reach their destination without any hindrance...////...