Sandalwood procession marks Nagore dargah Kanduri festival

Annual Kanduri festival at Nagore Dargah features Sandalwood procession, attracting devotees from multiple states despite rain.

The Sandalwood procession, the central event of the 468th annual Kanduri festival at Nagore Dargah, took place on Wednesday. Despite rain, a large number of devotees participated in the procession.

The procession began at 8 p.m. on Satuday night from Ya Hussain Mosque Street in Nagapattinam. Illuminated ships, decorative chariots, a chettipallakku (palanquin), a large incense holder, and grand rathams (chariots) accompanied the sandalwood casket as it made its way through the main streets. The procession would reach the adorned entrance of the Nagore Dargah in the early hours of Thursday.

Devotees from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and other States thronged the event, which is a highlight of the 14-day Kanduri celebrations that began on December 2 with the traditional flag hoisting.

To manage the large crowds and ensure safety, traffic along the Nagore-Nagapattinam road was diverted. Around 500 police personnel, led by DSP Balakrishnan, were deployed for security.