Vedapureeswarar Temple, Puducherry – Religious Significance & Festivals

Vedapureeswarar Temple, Puducherry – Religious Significance & Festivals

The temple follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasanthi at 8:30 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:30 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Arthajamam between 8:30 - 9:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Vedapureeswarar and Thiripurasundari. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.

18-day Vaikasi (May-June) Brahmmotsavam, 10 days Navarathri in Purattasi (September-October), Annabishekam in Aipasi month (October-November), Shivarathri in Masi (February-March), Kruthika, Sankatahara Chaturthi, Adi Kruthikai, Thai Kruthikai, Chitra Poornima, Adi Pooram, Pradosha days are the festival days in the temple when the crowd will be huge. Also, Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil and English New Year days, Pongal are also festive days in the temple. Saint Ramalinga Swamigal (1823–74) has sung praises about the Murugan in the temple.