We went next to Perumal – it’s the last Saturday of Purattasi, and the last of his major alankarams. Moolasthanam just opening. Hanuman in a charming embroidered green suit. Wondering now when the Maa Munigal Utsavam will begin, and what it will be like compared to all the others … Sekar mama has told us that while the Desikar Utsavam is largely upheld by Iyengars, the Mamunigal Utsavam is done by Naidoos, which makes them each qualitatively different utsavams.
Today was the last day of the Vaishnava Navaratri utsavam, and we thought we’d not miss the ambu poduthal here for sure – but we were wrong. The patrikai said 7pm, but for some…
Perumal Koyil starts Navaratri on Dwitiya, unlike everyone else–we cannot figure out why, since amavasya (associated with pitru karma) is long over by the time of sunrise. We…
We go after 9pm. Dance in the makeshift mandapam outside, invoking the Dashavataras. Temple doors only left slightly ajar as everything closes down inside. We are called for the…
It is the second Saturday of Purattasi, and the temple is thronging. When I reach the temple around 730pm, Desikar was on the first round of his ul-purappadu. He was rounding the…
We returned to Varadaraja Perumal after a long day at Thiruvahindrapuram. Desikar here was also dressed in studded stone, and also carried pavitrams hanging at his base. He stood…