We go to the Ghousiga Thulasi Mariamman around 930am. The dhvajam is still up. We are told to return around 1030. We also find out that last night was the thiruther – the ther is still outside with all decorations. Among the decorations are maalas of starfruit!
We go home and return around 1040 – and the dhvajam is down already!! We spend some more time inside, receiving pinch after pinch of Kunkuma and Vibhuti. Voice-noted the inside prakara walls’ iconography.
Arun goes back in the evening around 8pm. The unjal is already up. Around 830pm the deeparadhanai os done – this is very brief, completed within a couple of minutes. The usual divider-barricade outside the Murugan shrine has been removed to make space to stand before the South-facing unjal. There is a rooster vilakku and a peacock vilakku on either sides of the unjal. To the left of Amman, on a fixed stool, stands Pavadarayan. Amman is beautifully adorned with lotuses, flower garlands, as well as a garland of cloves.
The pusari refuses to let me take photos or videos, although I’d already asked the Ghouse owners. Eventually the elder Ghouse son (I think that’s who he is) convinced the pusari who did not come to me again. I went to the Ghouse son and apologised for any inconvenience and thanked him for intervening.
Met a man who lives nearby. Apparently we missed plenty last night. The thiruther was a big event. He’s shared his footage with me (which is of surprisingly high quality for a mobile).
There is Sundal prasadam.
On my way back, on MG road, I see a ther parked. It comes from the Mariamman koyil on Govindasalai Main road (behind Raja theatre says a man there). This was the penultimate day of the Thiruvizha.