Kanchi Varadhar Thiru Avathara Uthsavam (4)

                   The Avathara Uthsava Mandapam attached to the Govindaraja  bungalow is richly and traditionally decorated.  Colourful canopy on the road. 

                   All family members are present there outside.  . Married ladies in 9 yards saree , married men in panchakachcham . Caste marks on their forehead. Most boys wear the 4 yards dhoti and girls the saree. Everyone has an offering in their hands . The family head will offer silk clothes . Others , fruits , flowers , and dry fruits. Everything is on bamboo , wooden ,silver ,copper or brass trays . No  plastic anywhere. 

                    Keen ears and eyes scan the end of the road . The Lord has stopped enroute  at various houses on request hence his slow pace. As soon as the sound of a cracker is heard the traffic is stopped and people  once again sweep their house fronts and draw fresh kolams. 

                    Let  them draw their kolams , I will take you through the the history of this Uthsavam. A year or so after my marriage I got this pamphlet. It was published by Janamma sister of Jayamma in the year 1976 to commemorate 100 years of Avathara Uthsavam . So today in 2020 , 144 years have passed since it was started. Written in a grandiloquent language, it took me years to decipher it.   I will give you a gist. 

                      Round about the year 1876 one extremely scholarly and pious  gentleman named Govindachari   who belonged to the Komandur Ilayavalli    family was residing at Kanchi.  Once when  on his way to have Sethu Snanam  at Rameswaram  his boat was caught in a  fierce storm .  He pleaded with God to be spared. At once the storm cleared and he was saved. Wanting to commemorate this divine intervention , on his return to Kanchi he vowed to celebrate the Lord’s birthday  on Chititrai Hastham every year. He built a Mandapam on The  North Road near the Temple and a house next to it. For the first 30 years he  was blessed to have been able to conduct the festival by himself. From then on his progeny have been continuing the tradition . 

                      From the pamphlet: :  On that day Devathirajan will arrive at this Mandapam at 8 am . After Nivedhanam, elaborate Thirumanjanam which is a feast for the eyes there is Asthanam, Saththuppadi, thiruvaratham,  Mandira Pushpam, Nivedhanam etc. Then to the accompaniment of 

   fire works and music He will leave for Thiru Veethi Ula at 8 pm. 

                   Now the front forerunners of the prabandhan goshthi have arrived . As  they pass people prostrate on the road. The Lord stops under the high canopy. He is welcomed with a lot of honours.  It takes about 15 to 20 minutes here. He then turns into the Mandapam  gate  . The Jeeyar Swamigal as usual leads the goshthi in their song. Only then Varadhar  proceeds to the actual Mandapam door  and makes a U  turn . Again a lot of recitals. Then  He goes on to the stage inside facing us. 

                     The tiny boys as old as 5 or 6 wearing veshti and caste marks recite along with the goshti  with a lot of fervour.  They are a sight for sore eyes. The goshti leaves after getting their mariyadhai . Mandapam doors  are closed and only close family allowed one by one. Here outsiders will always try to barge in . You have to catch the Bhatter’s eye. 😁 

                     Time for high lunch . 

        

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