Palani Murugan Temple – Panguni Uthiram Festival
Palani's most important festival is Panguni
Uttiram in March-April on the day Uttiram star (nakshatra) is ascendant.
This ten-day event at the Tiru Avinangudi 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 kirttikais draw a crowd of one lakh;
the Karthikai Deepam and Vaikasi Visagam get two lakhs of persons each. The
same may be said of Skanda Sashti. Three lakhs of persons attend the Thai
Pusam. Panguni 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 Muthukumara Swami along
with his consorts Valli and Teyvannai is taken in procession in the forenoon
and again at night. On some days, the procession covers the Giri Veedhi around
the hill of the temple of Lord Dhandayuthapani. Groups of trained Thevaram
musicians sing Thirupugazh and other hymns in chorus at these processions.
The deity is mounted in chapparam, ivory palanquin, Kamadhenu,
golden peacock, goat, silver elephant, silver chariot, golden horse and other
Vahanas (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. Pair of wooden sandals, Kavadi and
Idumban Thadi is also anointed.
This is followed by Maha 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.
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 Vaiyapuri tank, all eyes are
turned towards the sky to watch the illumination of crackers (Vaana 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 Pattu (Bow Song), Harikatha Kalakshepam (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.
Feeding of feed to the poor 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 in a state of delirium and prophecise coming
events.
A hundred thousand people—in some year’s even larger
numbers—shave off their heads, as penance and offer their fondly cultivated
scalp to the deity, during this festival. In short, Panguni Uttiram is a
festival that has to be seen to be believed.
This also is a very important festival here, and is
celebrated for 10 days; devotees carry Kavadies with holy water (from sacred
rivers), sugar, tender coconut etc. During these 10 days, we can see various
rural dances like "Oyilattam, Thappattam, Dhidumattam, Velanattam,
Samiyattam"etc., along with rural songs. The rural music is an important
part of Panguni Uthiram festival.
The main feature of Panguni Uthiram is the offering of
"Theertham" (Posts of Holy water) from Kodumudi. Lord Palaniandavar
is given Abhishekam with this holy water. The devotees carrying Kavadi to
Palani sing Kavadi - songs throughout their 'Padayathra' and these songs are
ancient oral songs.
On the 1st day, there is flag hoisting at Tiruvavinankudi
Temple and on all the 10 days Lord Muthukumara Swamy with Sri Valli and Sri
Deivanai goes in procession around the Palani Hill. On the 7th day there is
"Car Festival" and this is attended by thousands of devotees. During
these days the Lord also is given special reception and pooja at many
'mandapams' in the Palani Adivaram area. It is a grand sight to see Lord Muruga
with his concerts during these processions.