When families get together: are you hosting friends this festival?

Panguni is a time for families who live in Mylapore to host their relatives and close friends. It happens around the time of the procession of the ther and the arbathumoovar processions.

Many longtime Mylaporeans enjoy hosting families, even if just for a few hours.

While the guests and hosts take part in the rituals, there is also a get together over lunch or dinner.

Do you know of families here who host people?

Tell us. We would like to interview them.

The flag is hoisted

Here are a few pictures of the Kodiyetram ceremony. 

On the Day 2 (March 11) of the Panguni Festival the chief priests of Sri Kapali Temple hoisted the flag (kodiyetram) at the kodi maram in front of Sri Kapaleeswarar Sannadhi.

The deities (panchamurthi) of  Sri Somaskandar, Goddess Karpagambal, Sri Vinayagar and Sri Chandikeshwarar were placed on the stage of navaratri mandapam facing the kodi maram.

Hundreds of devotees gathered for the event.

 R. Revathy and G. Mangai say, " we came rushing all the way from Vadapalani to see the kodiyetram. We didn't want to miss the auspicious moment."

Today, many devotees from nearby districts have come and stayed in Mylapore to witness the 10-day Panguni Festival.

Later, the five deities will be taken in a procession around the mada streets.

The flag; a closeup visual

This is the flag ( kodi) that was hoisted early Monday morning. Can you tell us what the symbols stand for?

Flat hoisting ceremony tomorrow (March 11) morning

The flag hoisting ceremony at the temple is expected to take place a little after 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. Usually hoisted on the kodimaram, the flag hoisting indicates it is festival time.

The kodimaram, which is usually a stem of a big tree wrapped up with sheets of metal including brass, copper or even gold, is cleaned and decorated. Prior to the flag hoisting ceremony, a small pooja is conducted. The blessings of the deities are sought as the tavil and nadaswaram artistes belt out traditional tunes on their instruments.

Watch towers to be set up for the Arubathimoovar procession

The officials at Sri Kapali Temple, Mylapore have had several meetings with the civic authorities to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

The executive officer of the temple, D. Kaveri says, "We had a meeting on March 3 with police, Metro Water, TANGEDCO and Corporation authorities. We have decided to set up 15 watch towers and CCTV cameras prior to the Arubathimoovar procession. The police have told us where we need to set these up and we will do so shortly".

She continues, "We have made arrangements to provide drinking water for the devotees who visit the temple during this festival. The fire department have been informed, a fire engine will be stationed near the temple".

"The vahanams that will carry the deities are being cleaned, repaired and greased. Veda parayanam arrangements have being made too. We have completed talks with artistes who will play instruments at the festival".

On the day of the thirukalyanam, two large screens will be set up inside and outside the temple to enable the devotees to view the festivities, says Kaveri.  

Panguni dance, music concerts timetable is out

As much as people wait for the Panguni festival time table, they are also keen to get their eye son the concerts schedule - the music and some dance that is held at the Navaratri mantapam in the temple.

The schedule was put out this morning.

Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Ranjani-Gayatri and Bombay Jayashri are among the artistes in the line up.

Go to www.mylaporetimes.com for a post on the concerts schedule.

Grama Devathai Pooja, a prayer to Goddess Kolavizhi Amman takes place

The Grama Devathai pooja - a  prayer to seek permission for conducting the Panguni Festival of Sri Kapali Temple, took place this morning at Sri Kolavizhi Amman Temple, Mylapore.

The Kolavizhi Amman temple volunteers and priests prepared sakarai pongal and ven pongal for the Pooja. 

Volunteers and temple officials of Sri Kapali temple brought the necessary abhishekam and pooja items which included sandanam, kunkumam, a saree for Kolavizhi Amman, panner water, vibhuthi, garlands and fruits

The head priests performed the abhisekam for Sri Kolavizhi Amman and Sri Bhadrakali (utsavamurthy) inside the sanctum sanctorum. After which, the two utsavamurthis were brought outside for neivedayam.

Later, a deeparadanai took place and the pongals were distributed to the devotees.

Artistes played nadaswaram and thavil throughout the pooja.

Finally, the head Priest of Kolavizhi Amman temple G. Dhanasekar prayed for a smooth run of the Panguni Festival and handed over the tambula tattu (plate with fruits and garlands) to D. Kaveri, the Executive officer of Sri Kapali Temple.

Preparations for the Panguni Festival are in full swing

Preparations for the Panguni Festival are going on very intensively.

The shutter of the ther has been opened. "We will soon start dusting it," said a volunteer.

Colourful pandals have been put around the mada streets.

Tree branches that may hinder the passage of ther at the mada streets were cut down by Chennai Corporation workers.

RamKy workers were collecting the same in the evening of March 8.

Pandals are erected using crane machines near 16 kal mandapam.

Gold Naga Abarnam (Jewellary) gets polished today

This evening, the gold Naga Abarnam (Jewellary) of Sri Kapaleeswarar was polished.

The staff of the Jewellary shop Vummidi Bangaru Srihari Sons, T.Nagar were polishing the abarnam.

First they cleaned the abarnam with surf water to remove the oil and other minute particles. Then they polished with a special polish powder.

 "Two years back, the donors bought this Naga Abarnam from our shop. Since then, every time when it needs a polish, we voluntarily do as a service," says S. Anandan, a staff of the Jewellary shop.

Invitation for Panguni festival distributed today

The temple's staff have started distributing the invitation of the Panguni festival to the devotees coming inside the temple.

Today being Pradosham and Mahashivarathri, a large number of devotees are gathering here to get the invitation.