The Nellaiappar-Gandhimathi Amman Temple’s annual car festival in Tirunelveli is one of the most celebrated religious events in the district, attracting devotees from across Tamil Nadu and beyond. This year marked the 519th iteration of the festival, which saw lakhs of worshippers participate in pulling the massive temple chariot — one of the largest in the region — through the historic streets surrounding the temple.
The festival is deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition and symbolizes community devotion, with large numbers of devotees, religious leaders, and local officials joining the procession. Members of various communities, including leaders from different religious backgrounds, participated — underscoring the festival as a symbol of cultural harmony and collective spirit. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department restored and built new chariots for the occasion, investing significant resources into community heritage and temple upkeep.