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| Above: Masi Festival poster. Below: Masi Festival begins at the Tiruvizhâ Mandapam. |
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The Tiruchendur Brahmotsavam of Masi during February-March each year wherein all the three temple cars are dragged and the festival is conducted for twelve days concluding with a Teppam or Float Festival is much esteemed.
It is particularly an occasion for jubilation, as one and all and especially those who could not till recently enter the temple precincts can have his darshan which is so dear to the heart of his bhaktas. The Pachchai Sattuppadi or the floral decoration of the deity in all green on the eighth morning is especially one which none would wish to miss in the festival.
The temple cars are drawn on the tenth day of the festival, and the Theppam float on the 11th day concluding the festivals. They are huge attractions to all the country folk around, who come in large numbers and participate in dragging, and bringing them to their stands.
The great Masi Festival begins at the Tiruvizhâ Mandapam in Tiruchendur town from where Devasthanam priests (see picture at lower right) ceremonially bring the Masi festival flag in procession on elephant-back throughout the town and to the Devasthanam where, early the next morning, it is raised on the kodi maram (temple flag pole) amid much pomp and colorful ceremony.
The Masi festival is noteworthy also for the reason that during most of the days, popular discourses on religion are arranged to be given by scholars of merit and also musical performances, in furtherance of the cultural advancement of the congregation, propagation of religious knowledge, and the resuscitation of arts.
