↧
Ther; set for the procession
↧
Day of the chariot; seen, heard and seen again
The sun was up, there was stillness in the air and sweat began to trickle down many foreheads of men and women, some 3000 of them who had gathered on East Mada Street to witness the roll of the ther on April 1 morning as part of the Panguni Fest of Sri Kapali Temple.
It took three big efforts to get the iron wheels of the chariot, heavily decorated and carrying the Lord of Mylapore moving. The crowd cheered, gasped, kept silent and then 'Kapali Kapali' rent the air - the chariot had moved out of the shed and in 5minutes rolled in front of the gate of BVB.
Many people quickly dispersed - this is a working day for many, As they scurried they bowed before the chariots of the Ambal, Singaravelar and Chandikeswar.
As sweaty bodies and khaki clad police found refuge or got into Karpagambal Mess for breakfast ( bill for two Rs.180 plus), Narikuravas and nomadic hawkers spread their wares - light pink lotuses fresh from suburban ponds, plastic mallipoo, Bombay bags and the staple beaded-chains.
East Mada Street fell quiet and the excitement grew on South Mada Street. Pandals opened and the first one began to serve sambhar and curd rice; hawkers were assured of food now. Elsewhere, volunteers offered thick buttermilk but people who gulped it dumped the plastic on the street leaving civic workers rot bend twice to clear the waste.
"Tell them to regulate the food dhanam, people waste food and dump it on the street, " said Lakshman Kumar and Suganthi who settled here after a Mumbai stay. They reside at Mundagakanni Amman Koil Street.
As the sun beat mercilessly and the sea breeze remained feeble, the chariot rolled past Sangeetha on South Mada Street and into R K Mutt Road.
It is expected to return to its space in Sannidhi Street by noon, even earlier since the crowds are thin. More people are expected to head to the temple zone after 4 p.m.
Mylapore's mada streets looked a bit like a village in celebration.
Elsewhere, the pandals for water, buttermilk and rice got going. On C V Raman Road, senior citizen 'Maiji' stepped out to launch the panda's service outside the residence of the Muthukrishnans.
Beyond Mylapore, there is as much celebration as there is around the temple zone.
↧
↧
Snapshots of the 'ther' event
Photos by Madhan, Saravanan, Vincent D' Souza.
< You too can share your photos - unique shots - at - mytimesedit@gmail.com
↧
The Panguni tradition that Mylaporeans keep
Dozens of Mylaporeans keep a Panguni festival tradition to this day.
Providing food to guests and people who head to Sri Kapali temple in Mylapore.
At Balasubramaniam's residence, this year marked the 101st year of this Panguni tradition. This Mylaporean is 92 years old and his daughter Revathi made arrangements to feed 750 people on Arabathumoovar day.
Helping them is caterer N. S. Anandan who lives down the road.
The elai sapad menu included badhusha, medhu pakoda and jav-arisi payasam. Also on each banana leaf was a two-rupee coin.
"In the old days we used to feed over one thousand people and left a one-rupee coin for our guests," said Revathi, resident of Chitrakulam North Street.
S. Jamuna's family also keep this tradition at festival time. This East Mada Street resident, now 65 invited about 80 youths who carry the vahanams from the temple around the mada streets to a special lunch at her residence.
Joining her were sisters Indira and Padma and sister-in-law Kalpana and others - to make and distribute 11 kilos of kesari and 60 litres of buttermilk on Arabathumovar day.
"This is a tradition we love to carry on," says Jamuna.
Down the same street are this trio - Gomathi Mangalam, Jaya Gomathinayagam and Rajendran - want to expand their 15-year-old tradition.
One afternoon is reserved for Sri Kapali Temple priests - a puja and elai sapad during penguin fest.
For arbathumoovar day, the trio arrange to cook puliogare and sweet and ven-pongal which is served to devotees from 8 am to 8 pm.
The biggest service is provided by late flutist Narayana Iyer's family of Mathala Narayana Street, off the Mangolai junction.
The menu list is much like the one you would want at a big, fat wedding - sweet and ven-pongal, brinji, sambhar and tomato rice, vegetable biryani, idli and sambhar, mixture and sweets and bread -channa. Cooked in parts over the whole day, spaces on the street are used for storing, slicing and cooking.
'This is a 110-year old tradition that Narayana Iyer's wife began in a small way, " said one family member. "Funds keep flowing from February onwards."
Their estimate is that 25,000 people line up at their food window on this small street on Arbathumoovar day.
The food is great and available in plenty. People need to avoid waste and dispose the leftovers and plates properly. This would make the celebration wow.
- Info inputs by R. Saravanan.
↧
Time for music as agni nakshatram dawns
The concerts, by top ranking artistes are drawing large crowds. The top photo was taken at Sanjay Subramanyam's concert and the second one shows Vijay Siva in concert.
The concerts are on till April 17, every evening.
↧
↧
Welcome to Panguni Fest 2016
Welcome to Panguni Festival 2016.
And what a time this celebration comes.
At a time when Sri Kapali Temple is getting the final touches to the grand kumbhabishekam that is due in early April.
Which means that when you come to the temple this festival season you will see it smart, colorful and neat.
Through the next fortnight, we at MYLAPORE TIMES ( www.mylaporetimes.com) will bring you short stories of events here and lots of photos of the daily events of Panguni.
↧
Medical camp to help devotees during Ther and Arubathimoovar
MTS Academy in association with Chennai Medical College is organising a medical camp on April 8 and 9 to benefit devotees during the Ther and Arubathimoovar celebrations.
At Vanniyar Mandapam, East Mada Street, Mylapore. Ph: 9444991415.
At Vanniyar Mandapam, East Mada Street, Mylapore. Ph: 9444991415.
↧
The Thiruther festival has begun
 |
| Picture by Kalyani Muralidharan |
It will take more than four hours for the ther to complete one round.
↧
Video of ther, taken today morning
Here is a video, taken just before the ther left the shed today morning.
The video was taken by Kalyani Muralidharan, a resident of C. I. T. Colony, Mylapore
↧
↧
Scenes at Mada Streets as the ther moves forward
The pictures above describe the scene at the Mada Streets right now.
The Police are constantly announcing devotees to be safe and to secure their belongings. Some of them were also handed pins to secure their chains. Police dogs have also been pressed into service.
A group of young girls, dancing to religious songs and bhajans, will continue to follow the ther as it makes its rounds.
↧
Did you know why the idol of Angampoompavai faces Lord Shiva at Sri Kapali Temple
Look out for the re-enactment of the Angampoompavai incident on Sunday morning before the Arubathimoovar procession.
After Angampoompavai was revived by Sri Thiruganansambandar, her father Sivanesa Chettiar built Sri Virupaksheeswarar Temple so that she could worship Lord Shiva. The Temple was originally called Poompavai Nayanar Temple but was later changed to its present name by the rulers of the Vijayanagar Kingdom.
There is an idol of Angampoompavai at Sri Kapali Temple which faces Lord Shiva. The reason - she was a direct recipient of the Lord's grace. Sri Gnanasambandar was the conduit, and so his idol has been placed at the side.
↧
Distributing sugar during the Angampoompavai ritual
An important ritual is followed by devotees during the re-enactment of the Angampoompavai incident, scheduled to happen at the temple tank on Sunday morning.
Devotees who are sick will distribute sugar from mud pots to those gathered there. It is believed that doing so will cure them of their ailments.
Devotees who are sick will distribute sugar from mud pots to those gathered there. It is believed that doing so will cure them of their ailments.
↧
Goddess Kolavizhi Amman to lead the Arubathimoovar procession tomorrow
Goddess Kolavizhi Amman, the grama devathai, who comes straight from the temple is the first deity to lead the Arubathimoovar procession.
She will be followed by Sri Vinayakar and then Thevaram Moovar - Thirugnana Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundara who will be taken in a big pallaku. Angam Poompavai and Sivanesa Chettinar will follow Thirugnana Sambandar.
Deities Mundagakanni Amman, Angalaparameswari, Draupadi Amman and Thiruvalluvar will join the procession from Mathala Narayanan Street but will not enter Sannidhi Street or the temple. They will go back to their temples after the procession.
↧
↧
Look out for Vaira Swami from Chindatripet, decked in diamond ornaments
Vaira Swami from Chindatripet will join the Arubathimoovar procession from Luz towards the end.
He will first make his entrance decked in red coloured jewels and will be taken to the mandapam near the sannadhi of Sri Shaneswarar at Sri Kapali Temple where he will adorn diamond jewels and then join the procession.
He will be accompanied by several police and security personnel.
He will first make his entrance decked in red coloured jewels and will be taken to the mandapam near the sannadhi of Sri Shaneswarar at Sri Kapali Temple where he will adorn diamond jewels and then join the procession.
He will be accompanied by several police and security personnel.
↧
Yaanai Vahanam; a short video
Seen here is a video of the Yaanai Vahanam procession held yesterday evening. Taken by Prema Mani, a resident of Bangalore.
↧
Mada Streets at night
 |
| Picture by Jayashree Nagarajan |
 |
| Picture by Jayashree Nagarajan |
Hawkers have set up their wares all along North, South and East Mada Street. Children are seen playing on the merry-go-round, parents seen bargaining for balloons and vendors are seen selling everything from sweet white pedas to balloons, jewellery, kitchen items and toys for children.
Children are seen sitting on the big ther, tugging on the huge garlands. The big ther is now inside the open shed. Outside the shed, three small thers have been parked one behind the other.
The temple gopuram has been decorated with beautiful lights, changing colours occasionally.
↧
Re-enactment of Angampoompavai incident; held at temple tank today morning
Seen above are pictures taken during the re-enactment of the Angampoompavai incident held at the temple tank today morning.
↧
↧
Tents set up to distribute food in many areas
Food and drink stalls have been set up everywhere to cater to the needs of the thousands of devotees expected to gather for the Arubathimoovar procession, expected to begin at 3 p.m. today.
At Madha Church Road (near Aavin Parlour), Mandavelipakkam, rose milk was distributed today morning.
At Kutchery Road, a small tent has been set up near the Jain Temple to distribute food. Volunteers were seen peeling potatoes and cutting onions today morning and dumping them into huge vessels. An area was earmarked for food distribution near the Mandaveli bus depot too.
At Madha Church Road (near Aavin Parlour), Mandavelipakkam, rose milk was distributed today morning.
At Kutchery Road, a small tent has been set up near the Jain Temple to distribute food. Volunteers were seen peeling potatoes and cutting onions today morning and dumping them into huge vessels. An area was earmarked for food distribution near the Mandaveli bus depot too.
↧
Arubathimoovar procession on at Mada Streets
More than two lakh devotees have gathered at the four Mada Streets. Seen above are some pictures taken at the procession. Pictures by Madhan Kumar.
↧
Look out for the Bhikshadanar ceremony tomorrow
Look out for the Bhikshadanar ceremony tomorrow. This ritual signifies Lord Shiva's attempt to collect donations before the marriage.
This is the only ritual in which Lord Shiva will come alone. He will not be accompanied by the other deities.
This is the only ritual in which Lord Shiva will come alone. He will not be accompanied by the other deities.
↧