Deepavali purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni - Sri Parthasarathi Swami

Deepavali ‘the festival of lights’ is always enchanting – an occasion to wear new clothes, eat sweets, burst crackers, be with friends and relatives – a festivity which brings enjoyment…. – the festival was grandly celebrated all over the country.   One might hear that ‘enthusiasm towards fireworks is going down; spiralling prices have forced people to buy less of firecrackers;  the pollution awareness is swaying public away from crackers and the like……….’ some cynics might even try to suggest that interest is waning away.  In today’s context, at some places, people get glued to the cinemas and other special programmes the multitudes of TV channels present….

Thiruvallikkeni, the abode of Lord Venkada Krishnar is different – it boasts of the Temple sung by 3 Azhwars ~ innumerable days of festivals; crowds thronging to have darshan of Lord Parthasarathi inside the Temple, and more gathering to have His darshan during the ‘thiruveethi purappadus’.

Every year, Deepavali would coincide with the 10day uthsavam of Swami Manavalamamunigal, the Great ACharyar of Srivaishnavism, the Acharyar propogated Thennacharya Sampradhayam.  This year Sri Manavala Mamunigal Uthsavam concluded earlier – on Deepavali, being Amasyai there was the Periya mada veethi purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi Swami beaming His resplendent splendor.  If you enjoy Sri Parthasarathi with simple decoration having a single garland – you relish Him fully – again, when you see Him ornate with most beautiful choicest jewels, He outshines all the jewels that adorn him.

For Deepavali, He was adorned with so many jewels which shone beautifully in the lighting provided by fireworks.  The purappadu in the mada veethis took almost  4 hours from 6 pm to 10 pm – ‘hundreds of 10000 walahs and beautiful fire works lit the air’ as people celebrated Deepavali and bustled with one another to have a glimpse of His darshan.   It was indeed very Grand, sound, wonderfully lit Deepavali, for the Lord by his bakthas.

Here are some photos taken during the purappadu

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan