Today’s alankaram at Nandhikeswara is Saraswati as today is Saraswati puja, but this alankaram is done by the old priests of the temple since they came on hard times after leaving this place so as a support and continuity for them this 9th day remains theirs. Consequently, this is a more conventional alankaram with even a paper veena.
At Kannika Parameswari: again Saraswati alankaram, Amman in gold kaappu. The temple is abuzz with kids in costumes, there’s a sort of fancy dress competition going on. The priest gestures to us to take photos of the kids, some of whom look just very adorable as little Murugans or Ganeshas with paper pink trunks. We joke about how the rains happened today so that tomorrow’s ceremonies will happen in the clear. The Iyer laughs.
Mutthumariamman: Narayanaswamy was aiding the second Muraikarar (Jnanavel swami’s “turn” finished a day or two prior). Moola Amman was in gold kaappu, the utsavar was of course Saraswati. Same at Angalamman, Saraswati with a veena that has been fashioned out of cloth. Usual crowd of women doing kunkumarchanai, followed by a Deeparadhanai.
At Vedapuriswara Koyil, Durga was in Chandana kaappu, this is the last day of puja to her and the crowd for naivedyam was big. It was Visalakshi who became Saraswati (with an actual, beautiful wooden veena). 2nd kaalam homam was going on. We’re told to return 11am tomorrow for the neyyi kulam (ghee pond) alankaram.