Huge streams of pilgrims headed to the Annai Vailakanni Shrice church in Besant Nagar were seen walking down San Thome High Road, Dr D G S Dinakaran Road and across the Thiru Vi Ka Bridge into Adyar to attend the flag hoisting event that signals the annual feast of the Madha.
Many devotees were also seen taking the route via R. A. Puram and joining this stream near MGR-Janaki College for Women.
The stream of devotees grew thick and fast after 2 p,m. Some carried flags of Annai Vailankanni, some pulled a cart that held the image of the Madha, some said prayers and some were in a jolly mood. Women with babies in arms and seniors were also seen walking, as they must have all made a vow to trudge to the shrine today.
“We are walking from Royapuram to attend the kodiyetram this evening,” said a senior man, who led his family and relatives on the pilgrimage.
At some places, people handed over water sachets to the devotees and at the Pattinpakkam point, under a shamiana, Mylapore MLA, Dha Velu and his DMK party colleagues gave water, cool drinks and small snacks to the devotees.
Traffic had to slow down in this zone since 2 p.m. and as the volume of devotees grew, there were traffic jams on this route.
