Utsavamurti

Utsavamurti is an idol of a deity, a replica of the main one installed in the temple, taken out in procession. The utsavar portable statue, generally made of metal instead for portability, is carried around along many others in joyful processions, substituting for a while the central idol, the mulavar, still enshrined in its cella.

As the utsavamurti is cleansed and worshipped by everyone, its procession is accompanied with dances, songs and music bands expressing collective merriment and joy.

In ancient Cambodia as in ancient and modern India, utsava celebrations were held each time a deity image was installed in its temple, and at given periods of the year. Along the main deity were also carried along icons representing members of its retinue, and portraits of deified members of the royal court. For instance, Shiva would be preceded by Ganesha and followed by his principal servant Chandesha.

The 11th century Preah Khan inscription K. 908 required that "at least 122 gods and their entourage were to be brought back to the temple in the month of Phalguna, corresponding to the months of February/March in our calendar (st. CLVIII-CLX)" (cf. Goodall-Chollet-Chhunteng, op. cit.). Until recent times, processions carrying images, often made of metal, were held for the transfer of neak ta of a particular temple.