Madurai, May 12 -- As part of the month-long Chithirai festival, Lord Kallazhagar made a grand entry into the Vaigai river here on Monday. This is a key highlight of the festival, which began with flag hoisting at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple on April 29.

Every year on Chitra Pournami, the festival of Lord Kallazhagar entering the Vaigai River is celebrated as a symbolic act to absolve the curse of Sage Manduka. As part of this tradition, Lord Sundararaja Perumal dons the form of Kallazhagar and enters the Vaigai River.

This year's Kallazhagar Chithirai festival began on the 8th of the month. As part of the third-day event, Sundararaja Perumal, in the form of Kallazhagar, departed from the Alagar Temple near the foothills of Alaga...