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From the early hours of the day, devotees crowd, the temple chanting holy names. This is followed by darshan at Udayanapuram about 3 km. to the north of the Vaikom temple, on the Vaikom-Ernakulam road. The presiding deity here is Lord Subrahmanya, son of Siva. (The temple is described in chapter 22-A Round-up.)
The main event of the Ashtami occurs at night when the happy meeting between Vaikathappan
and Udayana purathappan and the Lord of Udayanapuram takes place. It is believed that the
son had gone to battle with Asuras and the meeting is an occasion for the faith greets the
triumphant son. The coming of Udayanapuram deity with Gods and Goddesses of the
neighboring temples on gorgeously caparisoned elephants accompanied by nadaswaram,
hundreds of torches (theevattis) is a spectaculars There are other famous temple
processions in Kerala like the Trichur Pooram and the Arattupuzha Pooram in w several
elephants participate. But the procession Udayanapuram is singularly grand and hundreds,
thousands gather to witness this symbolic meeting between father and the son.
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