Sri Manavala Mamunigal Uthsav - Deepavali purappadu 2015

Deepavali purappadu 2015 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.   In the recent years, there has been some attempt to wean away people as some keep saying 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……….’.  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 Venkata Krishnan 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 coincides with the 10day uthsavam of Swami Manavalamamunigal, the Great ACharyar of Srivaishnavism, the Acharyar propogated Thennacharya Sampradhayam.  Generally it would be 4^th or 5^th day of the Uthsavam and this year it was today 10^th Nov 2015  – 5^th day  of  Sri Manavala Mamunigal Uthsavam.   On this day, Triplicanites eagerly look forward to the evening purappadu of Num Acharyar with Sri Parthasarathi. 

In Chennai and in all parts of Tamil Nadu, it has been raining heavily  for the past 3 days, due to depression in Bay of Bengal. Yesterday was reportedly the wettest day in Chennai in 5 years… today there was some respite in the morning enabling people to burst crackers .. around 05.30 pm, it rained heavily – around 06.30 pm there were no showers and the grand Deepavali purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal with Sri Parthasarathi began. At South Mada Street, there was deluge of fire crackers and colourful fireworks that lit the sky. 

Thousands of devotees witnessed  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 embellished  with  many jewels shining beautifully in the lighting provided by fireworks. 

Even as there were ‘scores  of 10000 wallahs, the sky lit with latest fireworks’  - with Perumal reaching South Mada St / TP Koil Street junction,  rain interrupted and  there was Chinna mada veethi purappadu for Perumal and Acharyar.    No worry for His Bakthas, there are so many purappadus in Triplicane – tomorrow too, there will be purappadu of Perumal with Acharyar.  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu 

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan