Tamil Nadu: President Ram Nath Kovind offers prayers to deity taken out of water once in 40 years

Kancheepuram: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday (July 12) offered prayers to Lord Athi Varadar in Tamil Nadu. The 12-foot idol of Lord Athi Varadar is taken out of temple pond once in 40 years at Varadaraja Perumal Temple or Attiyuran Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram. The President and his family were accorded temple honours. Earlier, they had arrived in Chennai. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit accompanied Kovind. A grand occasion for believers, Lord Athi Varadar is brought out of the temple pushkarani (tank) once in 40 years and it draws lakhs of devotees. The idol is made of fig wood, which is called 'Athi' in Tamil. It was raised from the pushkarani on June 27 and the darshan will be open for 48 days from that day.