Sundara Vinayaka Koyil has so far been a little neighbourhood temple driven by the family’s commitment and pure goodwill and devotion, but fettered by their own personal (and budget) limitations and the sheer difficulty of running what is a full-scale set of pujas without a dedicated priestly staff. Rani Ma’am is is always the one organising, Ravinder Sir is always in the role of priest. That was the case today as well, but it felt very different. The place was full, for one, with mostly women (as usual), reading prayers and songs. It’s all a little off-key as usual, but somehow the chorus manages to sound harmonious. The abhishekam seems to have started on time at 6, because when we get there a little while after, it’s over and the milk is being handed out. Bhavani Amman outside is already washed and bedecked, so that must have happened before. Alankara for the Siva-Parvati duo is nearly done, and we can see it from a slit in the curtain, cooked white rice pressed onto the lingam and into the form of a human face, which is very strikingly done. The curtain opens, the deeparadhanai starts, the women are singing and chanting. After all the “no photo!” scares at other temples (though we’ve followed guidelines as given in every single place, and never taken photos when/of what we weren’t supposed), it was a relief to have women make way for us to actually get closer and take the photos we want. To the point of asking others to move, a little bit to our embarrassment, but such kind efforts and nobody complaining that we block their view for a bit. All that was such a relief. The women were reading as Ravinder sir was placing flowers, in much the way the priests and bhakta groups at the Sivan Koyil do. We left then for Nandhikeswara, which would have had its alankara ready and deeparadhanai starting just about then.
Temple announcement: On the occasion of 'Annabhishekam' (offering of cooked rice) at the Sundara Vinayakar Temple tomorrow, Sunday, October 25, 2026, an 'abhishekam' (sacred bath/anointing) will be performed for Arulmigu Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, followed by the offering of cooked rice and 'deeparadhana' (ritual offering of lamps) at 6:00 PM.