Manimutthu mariamman had another bath this morning, in anticipation of the noon Annadanam and evening Unjal utsavam. I went at 11ish, the alankaram was with nool malai for amman, tables set up for a major sappaadu. Cooking had happened since early that morning, applams fried on spot. A wide range of people, from the destitute to the certainly undeserving, sat waiting. A clearly impoverished and sick pair of women came, one of the temple nirvagam people applied vibhuti on their faces when one claimed to have found all in the Amman – a gesture of some kindness as it was a physical touch. There was a muslim man there I think with his wife. I think this was the Ubhayam of the lawyer A. Rajarajan, who’d also been there from the start. I left after the deeparadhanai at 12:30 for Ojas’ grandmother’s 13th day shrardha chaappaadu. Kasturi mami called me to come for lunch, but how could I possibly, today.
In the evening, Dyuman drove me to the Unjal Utsavam. Some of the men who’d been around all through were there, one looking like he might be slightly drunk–others were ignoring him. I got my photos and left. The request for photo-sharing is quite intense in this group! I’ve had to say I’ll send them to one representative, and they share.