Religious fervour pervades annual Kanthuri festival at Nagore Dargah

TIRUCHY: The annual Kanthuri festival was celebrated amidst religious fervour to commemorate Saint Syed Shahul Hameed at Nagore Dargah and the major event of smearing of sandalwood paste was held on Monday night.

Music director AR Rahman participating in the festival at Nagore late on Monday

Sources said that along with the sandal smearing ceremony, the Santhanakoodu procession took place on Monday night. Sandal paste was smeared on the tomb of the saint where Nagore Dargah has been built. The paste was later distributed to devotees and pilgrims, who thronged the Dargah. The Dargah administration claimed that the number of devotees and pilgrims visiting the holy site for the festival has been increasing year after year.

The sandalwood procession that was lit up with lights and decorated with flowers reached the tomb in Nagore around 4 am on Tuesday. The devotees from across the state and neighbouring states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh participated in the festival.

Minister Gingee KS Masthan, music director AR Rahman and others participated in the event.