The streets of Mylapore come alive every year during the Panguni Vizha. It’s a time when faith, joy and tradition bring thousands together to celebrate the rich culture of the Kapaleeswarar Temple. One of the most amazing moments in this festival is the Therottam- the grand car procession that fills up the Mada Streets with music, energy and devotion.
This year, as the temple car rolled down the Mada Streets, many a simple yet thoughtful gesture stood out; a tradition of care and kindness that’s beyond words. Several benefactors and establishments on the four Mada Streets offered refreshments to devotees along the path for devotees to continue their divine pursuits with renewed vigour. This isn’t just about benevolence or charity. It is a reflection of a tradition that celebrates hospitality at any given opportunity.
For Nithya Amirtham, a vegetarian restaurant chain that has its origins in Mylapore, this Panguni Vizha is even special, as the temple car paused for a few minutes right before their outlet.
The long serpentine queues of devotees holding the “vadam” under the hot sun, the volunteers managing the crowds, and the artists performing along the way were all welcomed with cool, refreshing buttermilk. Sunshade caps were distributed, so people could protect themselves from the heat.
The smile on their faces after sipping the cool buttermilk and the relief of resting under some shade quietly became part of the festival’s memory this year. Everyone enjoyed the brief pause and recharged themselves to prepare for the next leg of the procession.
While the grandeur of the temple car, the sound of temple bells, the ring of the traditional musical instruments and the devotion of the crowd all shape the spirit of the festival, it is, after all, the simple gestures that form the soul of the celebration. Sometimes, a small glass of buttermilk can bring more joy than we imagine. It is probably a way of reminding ourselves that festivals are not just about rituals. They’re about people, warmth, kindness and almost invisible acts of care.
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