Tirumala, Dec. 20 -- The Vaikunta Ekadasi grand festival commenced with great fervour at Srirangam, drawing thousands of devotees for darshan.

Srirangam, revered as Bhooloka Vaikuntam (Heaven on Earth), hosted the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival over 20 days, including the Pagal Pathu and Raa Pathu celebrations. The Pagal Pathu festival began this morning.

On the first day of Pagal Pathu, Namperumal (the processional deity) set out from the sanctum sanctorum at 7:00 am, blessed devotees, and will remain at the Arjuna Mandapam throughout the day. In the night, Namperumal will return in procession from the Arjuna Mandapam to the sanctum sanctorum.

Thousands of devotees participated on the first day and had darshan of Namperumal. The highlight ...