Palani's
most important festival is Pankuni Uttiram in March-April
on the day Uttiram star (nakshatra) is ascendant. This ten-day
event at the Tiru Avinankudi temple, at the foot of the
hill occurs in the off-season and so agriculturists and
other rural folk participate in it and give offerings of
paddy to the temple. Some of the monthly kârttikais
draw a crowd of one lakh; the Kârttikai Dîpam
and Vaikâci Vicâkam get two lakhs of persons
each. The same may be said of Skanda Sasthi. Three lakhs
of persons attend the Thai Pusam. Pankuni Uttiram spectacle
has been estimated at five lakhs of simple and unsophisticated
people with formidable faith in the Lord.
On
each day, the utsava deity of Muttukumâra Swâmi
along with His consorts Valli and Teyvanai is taken in procession
in the forenoon and again at night. On some days, the procession
covers the Giri Veedi around the hill of the temple of Lord
Dandâyudhapâni. Groups of trained Têvâram
musicians sing Tiruppugazh and other hymns in chorus at
these processions.
The deity is mounted in chapparam, ivory palanquin, Kâmadhenu,
golden peacock, goat, silver elephant, silver chariot, golden
horse and other vâhanas (carriers) at street level
and on the fifth day in the golden car atop the hill. The
seventh day, the Panguni Uttiram is the day of days. The
deity is taken to the waters for a dip at dawn. A pair of
wooden sandals, kavadi and Idumban Thadi are also anointed.
This is followed by Mahâ Abhishekam before noon. In
the evening, the large chariot is drawn by thousands of
people—the high and the low—with great devotion
and humility.
Sri
Muruga's Type of Palanquins
The
temple car or chariot of the deity is a popular feature
of the religious scene in Tamil Nadu. No one dares to think
it derogatory to pull the chariot. The ancient rulers themselves
led the pulling. People flock in strength to help the chariot
move and it is the tradition to compare large crowds to
'those which throng to draw temple-cars'. Built of wood
by skilled craftsmen, with intricate carved designs, the
temple car is a picture of symmetry. The canopy is ornamental
and has an imposing appearance, as it rises tier by tier.
The car is mounted on heavy wooden wheels. Its movement
is slow. The procession halts at stops known as mandapams
constructed specially for this purpose. At these places,
customary offerings are made.
On
the eighth day, near the Vaiyapuni tank, all eyes are turned
towards the sky to watch the illumination of crackers (Vâna
Vedikkai).
The
deity is richly dressed and bedecked with jewels, in different
styles throughout the festival period. Electrical illumination
is done on a lavish scale. Religious discourses are given
by a team of eminent scholars. The festival season is a
music season as well, with well-known artistes giving vocal
and instrumental concerts. Nayyandi Melam, Villup Pâttu
(Bow Song), Harikathâ Kâlakshepam (extempore
telling of epic stories), Pommalattam (Shadow Play) Karakam
dance (dancing with a pot over the head), etc., are the
other attractions providing feast to the senses. Poor feeding
is arranged by several institutions that have endowments
for this noble purpose.
During
the course of the festival, the deity's spirit is believed
to enter some devotees who will thereupon act as though
they are ma state of delirium and give out forecasts of
coming events.
A
hundred thousand people—in some years even larger numbers—shave
off their heads, as penance and offer their fondly cultivated
scalp to the deity, during this festival. In short, Pankuni
Uttiram is a festival that has to be seen to be believed.
