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PHOTOS: This is South India's MAHAKUMBH

February 23, 2016 10:17 IST

A devotee takes a selfie after the holy bath at the Kumbakonam Mahamaham pond in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

The nine-day Mahamaham festival, known as the 'Kumbh Mela of the south', concluded In Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu on Monday, with conduct of the most important event 'theerthavari', witnessed by lakhs of people.

An old woman taking holy bath at the Mahamaham pond in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

The theerthavari event is considered the most sacred to take a holy dip in the Mahamaham tank.

Devotees take part in the chariot procession of Lord Shiva near the Kumbakonam Mahamaham pond on the occasion of the Mahamaham in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. All photographs: R Senthil Kumar/PTI

The police said more than five lakh people took a holy dip in the tank on Monday. Since February 13, more than 25 lakh people have taken a holy dip as part of the festival, which falls once in 12 years.

A police personnel sprays water on devotees during the holy bath in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

Official sources said deities from 12 Shiva temples were taken in a procession to the banks of the tank and pujas were performed before the Theerthavari was held.

Devotees gather at Kumbakonam Mahamaham pond for the "Theerthavari" dip in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

Heads of various 'mutts' participated in the ceremony, they said.

A police personnel sprays water on devotees during the holy bath at the Kumbakonam Mahamaham pond in Kumbakonam.

At nearby Chakarapadithurai, deities from five Vaishnava temples were taken in a procession to the banks of the river Cauvery, pujas performed and Theerthavari ritual held there also, the officials said.

Meanwhile, a Rameswaram report said thousands of devotees offered prayers during theerthavari at the 'Jatamakuda theertham' in the island town on the auspicious Masimakam day.

The priests, who conducted Theerthavari for lord Shiva and goddess Parvathavarthini after special poojas to Sri Ramanathaswamy and goddess Parvathavarthini, brought the deities to the tank at 12 noon when the theerthavari was held.

The deities left Sri Ramanathaswamy at 7 am and reached the tank at 12 am.

The officials said around 1 lakh devotees were present at the venue.

The water from the tank was sprinkled on the devotees after the theerthavari (bathing of deities) function.