In 2020, during the first week of March (during the month of Maasi and an occassion called Maasi Magam மாசி மகம்) Vedaraniam temple conducted the temple chariot (தேர் திருவிழா) function. During my childhood time at my native town, the temple chariot sat idle, not properly maintained and needed infusion of large sums of money to be repaired and rebuilt.
Sometime around 2015-16, devotees, citizens, and prominent members of the community including our own family raised money and with help of the government repaired and rebuilt the temple chariot. Then in 2017 or 2018, for the first time in more than sixty-plus years, the town held the temple chariot festival. I wanted to participate in it but since the auspicous month of Maasi feel during the middle of the Spring Semester for my university, I was not abel to attend it.
But my younger brother insisted that I attend event at least one year and 2020 seemed to be that year and we planned to travel to India in February/March. Unfortunately, COVID-19 disease was spreading in China and to other countries. We were very concerned about our trip via Dubai due to the disease. Since it was not a pandemic then, we put the fate on the hands of Lord Vedaranyeswar and travled to India and to Vedaraniam and participated in the event. Here are some pictures from the event.