Free medical camp: During Ther and Arubathimoovar

A free medical camp will be held on March 17 and 18 at Vanniyar Mandapam at East Mada Street, Mylapore to help devotees during the Ther and Arubathimoovar festival. The camp, which has been organised by MTS Academy and Chennai Medical College, will be  from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both the days. 

Renting out utensils for food preparation during Arubathimoovar

The Arubathimoovar procession which will be held on Monday, March 18, this year is synonymous with food donation. All over the neighbourhood, food stalls are set up to feed the thousands who drop in on that day to watch the nayanmars go around the Mada streets.

People who prepare the food usually rent out the utensils and furniture to be used on that day. At Chitrakulam North Street, Balavinayakar Enterprises, have been in the renting business for more than four decades.

K. Swaminathan, the current owner, says this business was started by his father G. Krishnamurthy four decades ago. "We rent out chairs, tables and big utensils all year round. For Arubathimoovar alone, more than 50 people rent out from us. We have utensils that can be used to feed upto 1000 people".

And that's not all. Along with his staff, K. Swaminathan also makes 250 kgs of pongal or other varieties of rice for distribution that evening.

For details contact him at 9677053071. 

Lord Shiva mounts one of his biggest devotees today morning

The deities were taken out on the silver Purusha Mirugam vahanam today morning. Considered to be a devotee of Lord Shiva, Purusha Mirugam, as the name suggests is half man and half animal.

The silver kavacham was donated by the members of Thiruvasaga Thirusabhai in 2016. This is a Mylapore based group whose members have been actively involved in religious activities for more than two decades.

Temple umbrellas get new colours

Many new umbrellas have been made for this year's Panguni Festival. Two among them have different colour combinations - peacock blue and bright yellow.

The temple Sri Padams (volunteers who carry the gods during procession) and R. Balaji, a traditional umbrella maker from cintadripet together decide the designs and colours for these umbrellas.

"We wanted to break the monotony of white, golden and green colours that are usually used for making temple umbrellas. Hence, we came up with these colours," says K. Saravanan, a temple Sri Padam.

"We are also working on many other colour combinations and designs," he says.

Volunteers and devotees decorate the palanquins for the Arubathimoovar procession on March 18

Today, the temple volunteers cleaned and decorated some of the palanquins for the Arubathimoovar procession on March 18.

Many women devotees have drawn unique and beautiful kolams in rice flour. (pacha arasi mavu)

The scene at Sri Kapali Temple today afternoon

The deities will be taken out on the Bhootan, Bhootaki and Tarakasura vahanams today evening. This is the scene at the temple today afternoon...

The bhootan vahanam all ready to be decorated

The bhootaki vahanam which will carry the utsava murthy of goddess Karpagambal

A volunteer draws kolams at the eastern entrance of the temple

Workers cover up the Adikara Nandi Vahanam. The vahanam will be used again for next year's panguni festival.

Thirugnanasambandar's Gnanapal incident enacted at the temple tank

According to ancient texts, saint Thirugnanasambandar was less than five years old when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati appeared before him. The goddess fed him some milk. When his father, who saw drops of milk on his mouth, asked him who had fed him, Thirugnanasambandar pointed to the sky and sang the song 'Thodudaya Seviyan', a verse from the Thevaram. This is known as the Gnanapal event.

Less than an hour ago, when the Adikara Nandi procession reached South Mada Street, Mylapore a small pooja was held at the temple tank to mark this event. Devotees were seen offering milk to the deity and later distributing the same to the people who had gathered there.

This event is held prior to the Angampoompavai incident which will be held tomorrow.

The dance of the Gods

Here is a video taken during the Adikara Nandi procession today morning

Deities taken out on the Adikara Nandi today morning

It is a little after 6 a.m. Outside Sri Kapali Temple, Mylapore hundreds of devotees have assembled. It is the third day of the festival, the day when the deity is taken out on a procession on the Adikara Nandi.

Inside the temple, the arrangements are almost done. The deities have been decorated with huge garlands and silk clothes.

Soon it is time for the deities to make their way outside the temple. The crowd moves forward, hoping to get a glimpse. Children who want a better view are seated on their parent's necks. A group of seniors are chanting hymns. Another group watch with folded hands.

The music from the nadaswaram and drums fills the air. The procession moves forward. Everywhere it stops, the devotees rush forward to hand over their offerings. The youngsters who have been pulling the vahanam take a little water break, the heat is slowly setting in.

All along the Mada Streets, vendors have set up their shops, selling everything from coconuts and flowers to balloons and paper fans.

A festive mood sets in

A festive mood has set in and around Sri Kapali Temple.

This evening, the mada streets looked like a village mela with the beautifully decorated pandals and pavement shops.

Many nomadic hawkers have put their shops today ahead of Adikara Nandi procession tomorrow (March 13) at 6 a.m.

The children were seen enjoying the merry-go-rounds and balloon shooting games at East Mada Street.

Adjacent to them the hawkers were selling beaded chains, handbags, a variety of earrings and jewellary, chat-items, raw mangoes (served with chilli powder and salt), kamarkat and other traditional sweets.

Here are a few pictures that show the mood at the mada streets.