This place knows well how to mix ritual devotions with music, sound, and a good measure of street theatre. The Kaiyala Vadyam was on in full swing when we reached, and the deity was being brought out of the garbhagriha. This time Siddheswari’s own face and the classic temple alankaram, with Her seated on a lion, bow in her hand, trishulam by her side, which is itself dressed in a small sari like she is the Goddess in miniature form, and with jasmine maalas. Banana plants tied everywhere as decorations. Very festive atmosphere, like street theatre about to begin. And what theatre it was.
The Dewan later sent out a message on WhatsApp that said this among other things: “Vijayadashami marks the occasion when the Goddess, through her gracious and merciful gaze, destroys from their very roots the five great inner afflictions within us: kama (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (selfishness or greed), mada (pride or arrogance), and matsarya (jealousy or envy).” So, there were 5 arrows which the priest held in a flower-strung bow, and he held it and stood in front of the Goddess, and swayed to the beats of the vadyam or the nadaswaram, which played alternatingly, and then took each arrow (ambu) in turn towards the hapless, waiting banana plant and stabbed it with it. Durga moved from left to right twice in this process. Two arrows from the right, two from the left, and the last from the right again. Then the banana plant is cut, once, twice, with a large knife. The other priest comes over and pours red kunkumam over it, and we cannot tell whether it’s Mahishasura’s blood or the Goddess’ blessing. Sivavijay swami now brings the trishulam that’s been beside the goddess all along, and plunges it into the cut, almost flat surface of the plant. The dress and decorations are removed, and a short abhishekam is done right there, to the ambu. The ambu is returned to the Goddess, she circles the abhishekam table where the fallen tree lies, and she is carried once again indoors and there a victory dance happens. The nadaswaram plays, Kailayavadyam beats, sambrani smoke fills the air, and the priests throw red rose petals, yellow chrysanthemum petals, and whole flowers in the air over her. There’s so much it must be cleared quickly away. What a scene, what a heady sense of victory they manage to create.