Trichy: The opening of Paramapatha Vaasal, an auspicious event of the 22-day Vaikunda Ekadasi festival, was held with religious fervour at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam here on Tuesday morning. Namperumal, the procession deity of Srirangam temple, traversed through Paramapatha Vaasal gates as a sea of devotees chanted "Govinda… Govinda..." Lakhs of devotees from various quarters of the world thronged Srirangam Island to witness the event.Revered as the ‘Boologa Vaikundam’ (Heaven on Earth), Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, situated between Kollidam and Cauvery is the foremost of all Divya desam temples as per Vaishnavite belief. Vaikunda Ekadasi festival is being celebrated in the pattern of Pagal Pathu (daytime celebrations for 10 days) and Raa Pathu (night time celebrations for 10 days) every year during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January).With Mohini Alankaram, which marks the conclusion of Pagal Pathu celebrations, the first day of Raa Pathu festivities begins with the opening of Paramapatha Vaasal also called Sorga Vaasal (gateway to heaven). Around 4.15 am on Tuesday, clad in gem-studded armour, Namperumal, the procession idol of Srirangam temple, left the sanctum sanctorum and passed through Santhanu mandapam, Raja Mahendran Thiruchutru with the corridors packed with devotees. Passing through the narrow Nazhikettan entrance and Kulasekaran Suttru corridor, the procession deity stood at Vraja Nadhi mandapam where Vedic hymns were recited by senior temple priests.By 5.30 am, the Paramapatha Vaasal gates were opened and subsequently, the processional deity traversed the gateway followed by a sea of devotees chanting ‘Govinda’.Devotees said they believe that passing through the Paramapatha Vaasal would wash away their sins of past. Exiting the Paramapatha Vaasal, Namperumal appeared for darshan for thousands of devotees waiting near thousand pillar hall and Vella gopuram in the chilly weather."In the past three decades, we have never missed witnessing the opening of Paramapatha Vaasal at Srirangam temple. We feel energetic in participating in the event despite our age," T Kothandaraman, a senior citizen from Tiruvarur said.Large screens displayed the early morning proceedings inside the temple for the devotees waiting outside in queues. As the Vaikunda Ekadasi festival commenced with Thirunedunthandakam on December 7, the festival has been scheduled to go on till December 28, concluding with Nammalvar Motcham.With local holiday declared, lakhs of people thronged the island for which close to 4,000 police personnel were deployed to prevent untoward incidents.

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