Onam and Varamahalaxmi festivals were celebrated with pomp and gaiety in the taluk on Friday. As both festivals occurred on the same day, there was a festive mood across the taluk.
The people of the Malayali community at Bilagula, Shivajinagar, Billur and other villages celebrated the festivals with Pookalam, the rangoli with flower petals. They were dressed in white clothes, visited temples and offered special prayers in the early hours of Friday. A special pooja ceremony was especially organised at the Ayyappaswamy Temple.
Women were seen celebrating the Varamahalaxmi festival – which is one of the special festivals in the month of Shravana – with special rituals. They worshipped goddess Laxmi near the lakes and other water sources. They later brought the holy water – which symbolises bringing Ganga – in brass pots (kalashas) to their houses, followed by special poojas.
Rates
In the backdrop of both Onam and Varamahalaxmi festivals, the prices of daily commodities had increased. The prices of flowers, especially, had gone sky high. This, however, did not affect the celebrations, as the women still carried out the rituals and celebrations using a good amount of flowers.
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