Ramanavami was celebrated with gaiety in the district at several temples with the devout offering special prayers on Sunday.
Being a public holiday, most of the temples witnessed heavy inflow of devotees right from morning as they ventured out early to avoid the scorching sun as temperatures rose to 42 degrees Celsius.
At the Kondaramalayam in the old town and at four other places, there is a tradition of tying an earthen pot full of money on top of a tree and local youth in groups are challenged to claim it facing all odds.
Challenging task
The bottom of the tree is filled with soft mud and while members of different teams try their luck climbing over one another forming pyramid structures, people all around train water jets on them. Those who survive this slippery ordeal, after an hour or two of trial and error, walk away with the money.
The tradition, similar to ‘vutti’ played during Janmashtami, has been prevalent for the past several decades.
In the city, it was organised near the railway station, in the Old Town, on Gooty Road and at a place close to the Collector’s office.
