Devotees have complained that the procession of the utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy, also known as Sri Varadharajaswamy, on the Yaali Vahanam was cut short on Monday evening in Kancheepuram. The procession was part of the annual Brahmotsavam of the temple that is underway in the temple town.

On Monday, the deity was dressed as Mohini Avataram and taken around a fixed route in the morning and brought out on the Yaali Vahanam in the evening and should have been taken to the Gangaikondaan Mandapam, presented offerings and then travelled back to the temple.

Sources said that the 14-km-route was cut down to 200 metres by temple authorities citing lack of time. “In the morning, five new mandagapadis (visits by the idol on payment to various homes) were added to the route, delaying the return by several hours and thereby the next procession. The inability of priests and sri padam thaangis, who carry the idol, to work in extreme fatigue is being cited as a reason for bringing back the idol. This year the entire festival has been running late,” said a devotee.

Another source in the temple said that the Maniyakarar, who takes care of the internal affairs of the temple and Kodaikaarar, who manages the exchange of umbrellas along the procession route, have been transferred out of the temple. “The entire administration has turned topsy-turvey. The person in-charge of the Madapalli (kitchen where prasadams are cooked) has been made Maniyakarar. He is unable to walk along with the deity though he is responsible for the smooth conduct of the festival and holds responsibility for the jewellery on the idol. Various staff and even priests are being threatened with suspension. All this is being done at the instigation of two persons,” claimed a source.

A day before, there was a small skirmish between Vadakalai and Thenkalai sects about the chanting of the Nalayiradivya prabandham.