As the grand festival of Mahashivratri approaches, the Adiyogi Ratham, organised by Thenkailaya Bhakthi Peravai, will travel across Vellore and its surrounding areas from 3 to 6 February.
Simultaneously, hundreds of devotees from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are undertaking a sacred pilgrimage on foot to Coimbatore’s Velliangiri, accompanied by six Adiyogi Ratham.
The 31st Mahashivratri celebrations at Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore will take place on 26 February with great splendour.
To invite the public and provide an opportunity for those unable to travel to Coimbatore to experience the presence of Adiyogi, this annual Ratha Yatra is conducted, bringing the divine presence to people’s hometowns.
The 2025 Adiyogi Ratham was ceremoniously flagged off in front of the Adiyogi at Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore.
The Ratham heading east and south were inaugurated on 11 December by Dharmapuram Adheenam Srile Sri Masilamani Desika Jnanachampanda Paramacharya Swamigal, while those travelling north and west were launched on 22 December by Thavathiru Perur Adheenam Maruthachala Adigalar and Thavathiru Siravai Adheenam Kurumara Gurupar Swamigal.
These yatras are being conducted with four specially designed vehicles carrying six-foot-tall statues of Adiyogi.
In the Vellore district, the Adiyogi Ratham will journey from 3 to 6 February. On the 1st and 2nd February, the Adiyogi Ratham will be in Arkattai and from February 3rd to 6th, it will travel through various parts of Vellore.
On February 3rd, devotees can have darshan of Adiyogi in places like Karukamputhur, Shenbakkam Town, Konavattam, Virinchipuram, Poigai, and Usur. On
February 4th, the Ratham will visit Veera Reddy Palayam, Ariyur, Thorapadi, and Vellore Fort. On February 5th, it will be in Pennathur, Kaniyambadi, Bagayam, Virupachipuram, Vellapadi, Kadpadi, and Sathuvachari.
At every location, the Ratham is welcomed with deep reverence by prominent leaders, ardent devotees of Lord Shiva, and the general public. Devotees seeking to pay homage to Adiyogi can offer lamps, flowers, fruits, and other sacred offerings.
Alongside this, the traditional Shiva Yatra is undertaken by devotees each year. This year, devotees from Mysore, Chennai, Nagercoil, Coimbatore, Pollachi, and Pattukottai are making the pilgrimage on foot, pulling wooden Ratham carrying the divine form of Adiyogi Shiva.