Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Dec 23 (Reporter) The ‘Margazhi Ashtami Car festival of the World-renowned Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple was held with traditional pomp and gaiety here on Monday. Religious fervor permeated the temple town with thousands of devotees, especially women congregated this morning, pulling the aesthetically decorated chariots with devotional fervor through the East, South, West and North Masi streets around the temple in the city. Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Piriyavidai were taken in a chariot, while Goddess Meenkshi was taken in another chariot. The chariot of Goddess Meenakshi was drawn by women devotees, which is a special feature of the Margazhi Ashtami festival. The devotees chanted ‘Hara Hara Sankara, Meenakshi Sundara’ while pulling the chariots. The chariot festival celebrated on the ‘Thei Pirai Ashtami’ (waning of Moon in Lunar cycle) day during the auspicious Tamil month of ‘Margazhi’ (Margashirsha in Sanskrit) with devotees celebrating the event by blowing conches and beating traditional drums. The devotees collected rice to keep it in their houses, scattered by Sivacharyas along the procession route - a traditional practice which they believed would eradicate hunger and diseases. Special pujas were offered to the deities on the occasion. A large number of police personnel were deployed around the procession route to regulate the crowd and also to ensure that the chariots reach their destination without any hindrances...////...