Periyachi Poojai 2017 | Sri Mariamman Temple | Karagam procession

The Periyachi Poojai marks the start of the Firewalking festivities. Central to the firewalking festival are the Pandavas, Draupathi and the Kurushetram war. Just like how the Pandavas prayed to their ancestral goddess Periyachi (kali’s avatar) before the Kurushetram war, Periyachi is honored before the start of all the firewalking festival events. Prayers are offered to Periyachi to seek her blessings for a good and smooth running of the firewalking festival events.

The first half of the Periyachi Poojai involves the assembly of a vepillai karagam. The pandaram (head priest) carries the karagam on his head on a procession around the temple. This karagam is then dedicated to Sri Mariamman.

The karagam procession is followed by the agni kaapirai.