Drought doesn't dampen spirit of Chithirai festival

Madurai: It is a riot of colours inside the 17th century Pudumandapam, which is a popular shopping place close to the Meenakshi Amman temple. The mandapam is throbbing with commercial activity even as artistic perseverance helped showcase the charms of an ancient culture.

The drought which has hit the rural economy might have caused distress among the people in and around Madurai this summer, but it has not dampened the spirit of the people in their active participation in the Chithirai festival for preparations are in full swing at Pudumandapam.

Stepping inside the Pudumandapam, one would be amazed at the display of colourful costumes and accessories such as ‘salladam’ (Azhagar dress), colourful umbrellas, jewellery, traditional caps and the thee-pantham (cloth torch) associated with the festival in the stalls.

People, thronging the place along with their family members, were busy bargaining with shop owners on purchases. ‘Salladam’ is a unique dress worn by the male devotees taking part in Lord Kallazhagar's entry into the Vaigai as part of the Chithrai festival which falls on May 10, the third day after the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam. These colourful dresses are stitched by tailors on-site in the Pudumandapam piecing together a variety of velvet cloths embossed with shiny gold and silver buttons, multi-colour tassels and figures of goddess or tilak stitched on to them.   

“It is a scared dress for us. We observe viratham (fasting) for 15 days from Amavasai until the full moon day when the Lord Alagar will enter the river. On that particular day, we will wear this dress and walk barefoot in the hot sun, sprinkling water from leather bags we carry, towards Alagar when he is taken out in a procession in the city,” said Sethuraman (53) from Kayampatti village who has been practising this ritual since his childhood because Lord Alagar cured his incontinence. He purchased a pair of Salladams for Rs 1,500 from a tailor.

By wearing the God's dress, the devotees believe that they are metamorphosed into a different persona as a holy spirit takes over. Some villagers purchased shiny Alagar trousers, cloth torch and sickles from the shops to fulfil their vows during the event.

“We will wear this trouser and dance in divine spirit carrying the lighted torch and praising the deities,” said Rajangam from Vadipatti. His wife said they will initiate their son into the rituals because lord Alagar had fulfilled their promises by blessing them with a baby boy.

A specially designed cap rolled with silk cloth would also be worn by the devotees in the rituals. Most of the visitors to the Pudumandapam were also seen applying tilak (vishu) on their forehead, a traditional practice followed during the Chithirai festival.

The shops display colourful umbrellas of various sizes, which the devotees purchase and carry when the Goddess Meenakshi will be taken in a procession around the temple during the Chithirai festival. “Yes drought has caused havoc in our life. But we believe that Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Alagar will definitely bring rain for us,” said the villagers confidently.

Amid the bustle in Pudumandapam, one can't miss the unique sound of the tailoring machines as tailors who are seated in a row outside the shops, pressing the pedal on their machines furiously for stitching the Alagar dresses in a dash to meet their deadline.  In this festival season alone the tailors would expect to make a quick profit of Rs 15,000 within 20 days.