We were the only ones aside from the single ubhayakara at this morning’s Kannika Parameswari Krittikai Abhishekam. The usual dravyangal—oil, water (lots of it), abhisheka podi, 2 litres of milk, curd, 3 elaneer, rice flour, chandanam to be mixed with rose water. The priest works alone as usual, and chants the Purusha suktam, as well as Durga suktam and other verses I cannot make out, though Arun hears “Hayagriva” at one point. The alankara is simple-velli kavacham and flowers. It’s much like the vinayaka Abhishekam I had seen for sankatahara chaturthi, with gomathi masi. A no fuss affair. Small puja after and thinal or foxtail millet payasam. Traditionally made for Murugan this time of year, said the Iyer, a little makes a whole bucket. As we are leaving, they are calling the ladies filling the garbage truck outside to come in and have some.
In the evening is an arati thattu competition— to be fashioned out of coconut leaves. So all the women’s entries are being registered when we arrive at 645pm, between the Sivan and Nandhikeswara krittikais. There will be a judging later. The nirvagam head’s wife comes to explain to me the rules, as she has seen us there often. Today is the last vidaiyatri day, so there is an extra air of festivity and perhaps a sense of relief. 17 days!! 17 days you’ve also enjoyed — says the lady who is active at the mahila sangam, who is always kind to us. Indeed.
There’s a second Abhishekam to Murugan going on. The morning one was early—Krittikai really only starts in the evening, we are not even really sure why the morning one happened, but depending on the ubhayakaras sometimes there can more than one in the day.
The utsavar was out, though I completely forgot to ask what alankaram today she wore!