Maha Kumbhabhishekam of SIES Hanuman idol by Sankaracharya of Kanchi

Sankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal, who is visiting Mumbai for the first time after he became the Peethadhipathi of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, performed the third Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman) idol at the South Indian Education Society's (SIES) Nerul, Navi Mumbai, campus on Thursday.

- FPJ News Service

The Sankaracharya of Kanchi is visiting the city after a gap of 25 years.

The ceremony was held under the guidance of the Sankaracharya, amidst the reverberating sounds of the nadaswaram and thavil and melodious Vedic chanting by priests. This was the third Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the 33ft tall idol which was consecrated in January 2000 by the late Sankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswathi along with Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi. The Kumbhabhishekam and other rituals are performed periodically to rejuvenate the idol.