Aavani Shukla Panchami is the fixed tithi for Perumal and Thayar’s annual divine marriage. We go around 930am to check the state of affairs. We were puzzled to find a Desikar aradhanai going on as we came in. We were entirely unaware of the Desikar utsavam having begun already. We hear that it apparently began on Sunday the 13th. We are also startled by the large stage built on the Southern prakaram for the Thirukalyanam. The startle was largely because when the patrikai mentioned thirumanjanam for Perumal and Thayar, we assumed it would be two separate thirumanjanams for the two moola murtis, and consequently had not brought our cameras along. Instead we found this large stage, with the Perumal and Thayar utsava murtis being prepared for the anointment. Of course! How did that not come to our minds? We rushed to fetch our cameras.
Upon returning, as we waited for the thirumanjanam to begin, we were briskly called for help. Tagging along behind the man who reached out to us, we soon found ourselves sitting outside the Pandarinathar shrine, knotting manjal (yellow) threads which will be distributed after the kalyanam. Fair to say that we gladly allowed ourselves to be ‘roped’ into the work, and become ‘threads’ in the organic fabric of the temple’s functioning.
It is only around 11am that the Thirumanjanam begins. It is very extensive – the substances never end! Milk especially simply kept flowing, and the assortment of fruits came down on the deities like an avalanche.
PM – events extend up to midnight. Perumal and Thayar play flower-toss, exchange garlands, are fed bananas and milk, and head over to the mandapam. Ramanan Bhattacharya performs the homam. New clothes are presented to the Bride and Groom. Naresh Bhattacharya as Perumal, and Dinesh Bhattacharya as Thayar, partake in the homam and walk seven times around the sacred fire. After the thread-tying rites [mangalyam] are complete, Perumal-Thayar take an amorous stroll to the kulam, where the wedding chalices are poured out [what rite is this?], with the lovely accompaniment of Nadaswaram. Finally, dancing, they make their way into the kannadi palliyarai where they’re placed on an unjal, fed an assortment of fruits, before being allowed to retire for the night. It is 1230am when the divine marriage concludes.