Magnificent Ther of Tiruvarur

Everything about the temple of Tiruvarur is huge!

The temple itself has three praakarams and houses a number of smaller sannidhis.

The Kamalalayam, the temple tanks is another huge one, where boating for the public is also allowed!
The ther is really huge. It is called the Azhi Ther. Once you see this ther, all other temple thers will look like toys!

It was for the birth anniversary celebrations of Carnatic music trinity, I made trips to this town.
Yes, two trips. One for the Dikshitar Jayanthi in April.
It was then, just this festival and the walk inside the Thyagaraja temple was in a nice and calm atmosphere.
We could just float around the long maada veedhis, Enjoyed tender coconut sessions on the road. The summer was on, but it was not sweaty!

The next trip was in June for the other two composers' birth anniversary celebrations.

The Brahmotsavam at the temple was coincidence. The day we arrived was the most important day of the utsavam - ther.
The weather was sultry. Huge crowd thronged the temple as well as the maada veedhis, where the procession of the ther was on.
But, the sight of the ther at a corner of the maada veedhi from the other side through the temple tank is unforgettable. The huge there which once took a week's time to get back to its shed, now comes back to the temple by the evening. Thanks to BHEL, who have provided hydraulic brakes and a generator push from behind.

The devotees still pull the ther and apply the muttukattai - the manual brakes.

The evening concert by Sikkil Gurucharan, now a popular artiste is well-known in the musical ly starving Tiruvarur too. At a prominent place in the hall were the bronze idols of the trinity decorated with the traditional Tiruvarur garland.



The catch of the day for my camera!

Puppet show at the Elliots

Out guests this summer vacation wanted to go to Elliots Beach.

But it was a surprise when we could watch a puppet show in front of the Schmidts Memorial at the beach. The evening visitors sat down to enjoy the show.
A really free-for-all-show.
And I felt many more events can be held at our beaches, without spoiling their natural beauty. Street theatres, sand castle building contests for kids, tug of war game shows or just painting the sky!

Kuppamma - Suppamma show!

The story of two sea turtles - Kuppamma and Suppamma - was a unique show.

A puppetry show, in which they told everyting about their survival from hatchlings to young adults who have now returned to the beach of their birth, to lay their own eggs and what the humans do to them.... All in conversation in Tamil.

This event was organised by Naturequest, will be held at the Book Point Auditorium, (Opp. Spencer Plaza) in Chennai.

Dr. Bhanumathi, who runs Pavai Centre for Puppetry gave the intro and demonstrated another nature and environment related story through glove puppets.

The evening was wonderful. The audience looked relaxed and enjoyed the conversation like kids would do!

Yes, where were all the kids of Chennai?

Too busy reading? No. The exams are over!

Busy holidaying? Should be!

Parade of 63 devotees!

The next day after the ther was the Arupathumoovar (festival of 63 nayanmars or Saiva saints).
A glimpse from the terrace of a friend's house!
















Kolavizhi Amman, who joins the tribute to the saivaite saints!
















Do you recognise this deity? (!!!)
Tiruvalluvar with consort Vasuki!
It is customary for the neighbourhood temples to join the procession during the Arupathumoovar festival.
And yes, Tiruvalluvar has a temple and is worshiped in Mylapore. It is but natural for him to join the festivities!

Colourful farewell to the chariot!

The Car Festival at the Kapaleeswarar Temple is one which we don't miss to visit.
There is less crowd in the mornings, when the ther starts its procession. The preliminary pooja and the swamy's ascent to the ther are events one should not miss!
What interested me this was a novel idea to introduce the festivities to the younger generation. Kids who enjoy an outing with the parents during the temple festivals, sat down to paint their own ther!
The contest, which Mylapore Times, the neighbourhood newspaper organised for kids attracted the kids on the next day morning, when the ther was still standing tall at its shed, with all decor.
Once the contest was over, the pictures were hung on a clothesline on Sannadhi Street.
Wow! Twenty more thers. All perceptions of young kids!