Thousands of people belonging to various religions participated in the 852nd Santhanakoodu festival here at the Erwadi Dargah on Monday.

The 852nd Santhanakoodu Social Harmony Festival of the famous saint Kuthbu Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Oliullah Badusha Nayagam at Erwadi, near Keelakarai, commenced on April 18 with the recitation of the praise-song known as Mowlid Shareef.

Following this, the flag-hoisting ceremony took place on April 28. As the main event of the festival, the ritual of taking the sacred cloth (Porvai) from the Thaikka was held on the evening of May 10.

Subsequently, on Monday at 4 a.m., the Santhanakoodu was taken from the Erwadi Mujavir Nalla Ibrahim Mahal, and the procession commenced with a decorative chariot, reaching the Dargah at 5.30 a.m.

After special prayers, the shrine was covered with green and multi-coloured silk cloths, adorned with jasmine garlands, and anointed with sandalwood paste.

Thousands of devotees from Ramanathapuram district and various parts of Tamil Nadu, as well as from other States, including Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, participated in the festival.

As a testament to social harmony, people of various faiths—including Muslims, Hindus, and Christians—participated in the celebrations. From the night of Sunday, the Dargah glowed with vibrant electrical light decorations.

Special buses were operated to the Yerwadi Dargah by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation from various cities, including Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, and Dindigul.

A special medical camp was conducted on the Dargah premises on behalf of the Department of Public Health. More than 500 police personnel, led by District Superintendent of Police G. Chandeesh, were engaged in security duties.

In view of this festival, a local holiday was declared for Ramanathapuram district on Monday. The arrangements for the festival were made by the Dargah Haqdar Committee and the Haqdars.

The festival will conclude on the evening of May 18 at 5.30 p.m. with the lowering of the flag and the distribution of Nei Choru (ghee rice) as an offering.