Sri Parthasarathi Perumal thavanothsa mantapam day 5 - 2016

Sri Parthasarathi Perumal thavanothsavam day 5 - 2016 (the mantap)

I recently posted on the "stylistic hybrid"  architecture, the minar at Triplicane Thulasinga Perumal Kovil Street.  It was an expansive space – a raised structure made of wall – a good looking mantap.  When Perumal takes rest in the mantap – be it Thirumanjanam or after, hundreds of people can have darshan from all sides.  The roads surrounding the structure were sandy roads with lots of flowery plants.  

I have posted much on the minar(s) style of architecture –  remember in 1970s, it was a grand cricketing ground for us and during Uthsavams, people will so actively draw water from the deep well – pour on the ground, kolams would be drawn and the whole place would sport a festive look.  There were some ‘Arali’ plants – the red ones – and an old woman (one could easily think of her to be a nonagenarian) would pluck them to make lovely garlands for Perumal.  Arali (Nerium Oleander) is an evergreen shrub in the  family Apocynaceae, toxic in its parts. It is so widely cultivated that no precise region of origin has been identified, though southwest Asia has been suggested.  It would look ornamental and fragrant too – the tender bud (mottu) can be plucked, put in water and next morning one would happily see a beautiful flower.

19^th Mar 2016 is the 5^th and concluding day of Sri Parthasarathi thavanothsavam.  Here are some more photos depicting the mantap, Perumal taking rest and the thavana kooralam. Dhavanam (Tamil: தவனம்) [Artemisia pallens],  an aromatic herb, in genus of small herbs or shrubs, xerophytic in nature. 

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.