Durmukhi Chitrai Vishakam(24/4/2016) ‘Thotta utsavam’ took place for Varadaraja Perumal and His Consorts. Early in the morning at about 5.00 Perumal and Ubhaya nachimars came in purappadu on a golden palanquin with a velvet canopy along Sannidhi Street and the mada veedhis accepting offerings on Their way to Iyengar Thottam. They were escorted by Vishvaksena. Visvaksena or senai mudaliar is the remover of all negative forces and is the third in the line of guruparampara. He is a nityasuri and is an ever alert senathipathi (commander-in-chief). He is worshipped before the start of Brahmotsavam. Iyengar Thottam  is a coconut-palm grove with a mandapam for Perumal.
Deva Perumal, His Consorts and Vishvaksenar stayed in this cool place the whole day and spend the night here. At about 1.30 p.m. Tirumanjanam took place ‘yatha-vidhi’. In the evening Perumal did ‘pathi-ulathal’ three times around the mandapam wearing pink rose garlands. The garlands were different from the usual ones in the sense they appeared to have almost four to five strands clustered together without  a gap. The Ubhayanachimars with white jasmines around Their crowns looked as if They had sprouted amidst the roses. Perumal in His ‘kodali-mudichu’ attracted attention and everyone present were thrilled by the exquisite alankaram. After this ‘oonjal’ took place and majority of the crowd dispersed. Perumal however stayed back to listen to music-kutcheris and upanyasams. At about 5.00 am on 25/4/2016 Perumal started in purappadu listening to the sonorous chanting of stotrams. After returning to temple He ascended the steps of Hasthigiri and returned to His sanctum sanctorum.
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Photos: Sri Krishna Durai, Write – up: Smt Vyjayanthi Rajan
Beautiful, simply beautiful photos. Covered all angles. Thanks