The most beautiful Deeparadhanai experience of this morning; rushed here after Perumal Koyil Damanotsavam visit. Not sure what makes it so. The crowd? The manner in which the screen deep within is opened? The absolute stillness there when it is? The flames pointing all in synchronised lines upwards? Whatever it is, it’s magical. Annadanam and all other aspects supported by one family, doing this for the 5th year. A girl I meet later sends me images of the Ther which was built by the Vishwakarma community, and which everyone there has a memory of pulling at night. But because the temple has done a Balalayam in preparation for திருப்பணி / Thiruppani, or renovation, the Rathotsavam is on hold.
There are people selling archanai tickets. The Ubhayakara family ask what this new thing is – but apparently it’s a government mandate. To raise money! Some people buy. Tickets are 5rs each.
I rushed to Angalamman Koyil to see what was going on – not much at 630pm. No doubt deeparadhanai after.
7-8pm – back at Kamakshi Amman. Similar process to what happened in the morning, including the thundu and food (in dabbas this time) distribution. It was sweltering! Deeparadhanai for Amman, and then for the Utsava murti. I spent long talking to Mageswari who’s uncle is a doctor who maybe is an ubhayakara for some temple event – and whose ayah lives nearby, so she remembers playing in the temple (and a couple of others around), and never sleeping until they saw the ther on the night when it would be taken out.