: A large number of devotees from all over Puducherry and neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu thronged Vaithikuppam coastal village in the Union Territory to offer prayers to processional deities from various shrines on the occasion of 'Maasi Magam' festival today.
It is an important festival every yearand occurs on full moon day in the Tamil month of Maasi (February to March).
Deities from various shrines within Puducherry and neighbouring Tamil nadu districts were brought to the village for 'theerthavari' (dip in the Bay of Bengal) and performance of traditional poojas.
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The processional deities of Sri Subramania Swamy from Mailam, Poyyamozhi Vinayakar from Theevanur and Aranganatha Swamy from Gingee (all in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu) were part of idols installed for the festival on the seashore.
People had a holy dip in the sea and offered prayers.
The village has traditionally been the venue for celebrating the festival right from French regime in Puducherry and has seen an increase in participation over the years, sans barriers
Voluntary organisations and philanthropists distributed free food packets at various points to devotees.
