TRIP TO THIRUVANNAMALAI-(CONTINUED)

"yenna dhideernu Arunaachaleshwar nyaabagam?"

I start with the comment received in my earlier post relating to Trip to Thhiruvannamalai.Only upon seeing it i realised that except for the first line "I visited THIRUVANNAMALAI " there was nothing thereafter indicating the experiences of that recent journey as i got drowne din memories of the past, rather the memories of my first trip which i rememebered.
Let me not again beat around the bush.The trip on 4th Augsut was to perform a function named as "Thali piritthu Korkum function". In Brhmin community there is no such equivalent function though there is a function called Karadaiyar Nonbu, each year when the lady folk will pray God for the welfare of their family(in particular the husband however bad he be) and go in for a new MANJAL kAYIRU(Viz thali as it is respectfully called).
Thus this function was more or similar to the same but with lot of other formalities. These formalities start with invitation to Sumangali pengal in and around, who should have been atleast of a previous generation(so that they can keep on pointing out the deviationsa sa nd when some thing is done !!) so athat their blessings will be showered on the young couple.
Here again it is the girl who has to go thru all the customary formalities when the husban can choose to remain a silent spectator.

These Sumangali pengal(Ladies who are reportedly leading a happy married life ) get to gether , take out the New thin/thick Yellow thread and after doing some poojas , the new yellow thread is placed along with Managalyam on girls neck(one has to ensure that the thread does not slip off nor the earlier mangalyam is allowed to slip!!)which is a fine balancing act and i must compliment the lady(in her fifties) who was practical, understanding and logical all at the same time.This helped to thwart unnecesaary comments (most of them borne out of ignorance as no one is fully aware of what is required to be done and why it should be done).If you think the issue is over and we can go for grub. sorry readers , you are far away from reality.

The girl's parents are to bring different types of Golden items such as fruits, flowers, lamps etc made of gold (further expenses to the girls parents as it easily comes to 4-5 sovereigns )which are all to be knitted in the new thread .It is to be ensured that the number of items including the thali already tied shall be of odd numbers and not even numbers.When we missed out the counting , a recounting was ordered(!!) and it just came to 20. Immediately the boy's side arranged for one more golden item to be placed so that the number comes to 21 now(I could see my son loosing his patience already).

HATS OFF TO MY DAUGHTER. After a strenuous journey lasting for 4 hrs or so from Chennai to Thiruvanna malai, she was seated there with grace and composure and showing no signs of her discomfiture what so ever and having that ever lasting smile on her lips.She in fact had a severe back ache , the previous day and i could only pity her but could not do any thing to hasten up the proceedings.My appreciation for her grew each second, thru out the proceedings. I knew her to be accomodative always , but then i wished that she should atleast speak some times.I was glad that MAPPILLAI WAS fully aware of her discomforts and was trying to reduce the tension now and then in his own ways.

Then came the main ISSUE. The Yellow thread should be of such length that it should not be too short(say it should be atleast above the mid portion of the body)not it be too long(say it should not fall to the level of naval).But this was not told earlier with the result it was hanging (if allowed)it will touch her hips.And the suggestion to cut the extra portion of thread was immediately and vociferously rejected as it is stated to be not a good thing to do.I now wonder how i have maintained my calm.Perhaps i have started enjoying the whole show and now i realise why my son comes at times very strongly on such formalities.

The solution has to be found.The solution was that the extra length was again tied to the length,(which was unanimously decided as comfotable-AND DAUGHTER'S NOD 2who has to wear it right thru her life time was not even taken:))as a second kneading and with that the fiunction came to an end with the couple taking the blessings of one and all.

Immediately thereafter FOOD was served and we managed to leave around 4.30 pm so as to reach home by about 9pm.And the pent up emotions were surging and my daughter(as shrewed as she always is) gauged my moods and took stock of the situation to decide the order of dropping people at the respective homes. And in the process we ahve not visited the temple. This is perhaps the third time since my daughter;s wedding rings have started ringing and every time we went we have to return back with out having the glimpse of Arunacaleshwar.And hence i thought atleast thru this blog post i will remember the almighty, the Arunaachaleshwar. And that pssibly would have by now answered my friend son;s query.

I sign off now and will reappear later with my visits to the lord interugnum each of which was a satisfying experience in later posts.