Mahalakshmi Alankara second day, when we see it. Seems like the alankaras are kept for 3 days each (Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati), and only the maalas changed daily. The moola sannadhi is decorated with fresh flowers, the utsavar is in a Gajalakshmi form. Brass lotus below, two elephants poised on the tall kutthu vilakkus on either side. Here the puja is mainly the aradhanai, which follows the usual sequence of lamps – the mahadeepam or Adukkut dipam first, then several decorative others, then the plates with wicks that look like cigars, followed by the kumbha deepam. In this, we see Jnanavel swami picking petals and propitiating the lamps rather more than others at other temples. It’s beautiful, no doubt, but different.
Curtain closes, prasadam offered, curtain opens, archanai happens and everyone gets to touch the flower basket that’s brought by, short puja, nakshatra deepam aradhanai – and then of course the kunkuma distribution.