Vanabojanam ~ thirumanjanam at Sri Prasanna Venkatesar Temple, Periamet

Chennai aka Madras history is far older than the settlement of British East India Company, its Governors and more ..    the British, looking for a new settlement along the coast, secured a Grant by Damarla Venkatadri Nayaka  getting a strip of land in the fishing village of Madrasapatnam ~ and so starts the recent history of Chennai.  The English fortified their settlement following which the crumbling Portuguese and Dutch settlements joined them.

For a visitor to Madras, one of the most attracting heritage building is Central Station (in old cinemas as the hero landed in Chennai from the native village – Central station, Mount Road, LIC Building would be shown to make the viewers understand that the story now shifts to the metropolis). Chennai Central, lies adjacent to the current headquarters of the Southern Railway, as well as the Ripon Building, and is one of the most important railway hubs in South India. The century plus old  building of the railway station was designed by architect George Harding. Madras Central was built in 1873 at Parktown as a second terminus to decongest the Royapuram harbour station, which was being utilised for port movements.  Next to it stands the white Ripon building commissioned in 1913,   built by Loganatha Mudaliar, now housing the Chennai Corporation.  It was named after Lord Ripon, Governor-General of British India.

As one moves on the Sydenhams road leading to the famous Nehru stadium – is the Periamet area, the  hub of leather trade in the city. You may not have  ventured into the many winding small lanes through Karpura Mudali Street to Thoppai Street ~  and here is the beautiful temple of  Sri  Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal – Temple of Balaji with sannathies for Alarmelmangai thayar, Andal,  Alwar, Acaryas - .. Swami Emperumanar with our Acharyar Swami Manavala Mamunigal

10^th of Dec 2017 was significant – it was Vanabojana mahotsavam of Perumal and alongside celebrations of Thirumangai Alwar and Thiruppanar sarrumurai.  There was special thirumanjanam of Lord Srinivasa, Kaliyan, Panar and Udayavar.  Here are some photos taken on the special occasion.

~ adiyen Srinivasadhasan.