Vellore, May 15 -- The annual Sirasu festival was celebrated with immense fervour and devotion at the Gengayiamman Temple in Gopalapuram, Gudiyatham, in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu.

The festival commemorates the mythological event of Parashurama beheading his mother and bringing her back to life. Lakhs of devotees participated from Gudiyatham and neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

The festivities began with the ceremonial carrying of the idol's head (Sirasu) from Muthyalamman Temple in Dharanampet, accompanied by traditional art performances like silambattam, mayilattam, puliattam, and karagattam.

The vibrant procession moved through several streets, culminating at the Gengayiamman Temple, where the S...