Thousands gather for annual Mayana Kollai festival in Vellore
VELLORE: Scores of devotees gathered at the graveyard near the New Bus Stand to witness and take part in the annual Mayana Kollai festival, a major event in Vellore district.
Thousands of people started arriving in the afternoon to witness. The chariots carrying the idol of goddess Kali from various neighbourhoods reached the graveyard late on Thursday evening. At the festival site, massive mud structures of the goddess were sculpted on the land near the graveyard, and devotees offered a variety of dishes to them.
Mayana Kollai takes place the day after Shivaratri, with different legends surrounding its origins. Some say it marks the victory of goddess Parvathi’s over asuran, who is also sculpted at the graveyard. Others say it is about her saving Lord Shiva from a curse by goddess Saraswati.
