kapali kovil theppam
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On the 12th, 13th and 14th of February, the Kapali Kovil in Chennai celebrated its Theppam festival, after around 6 or 7 years. Even after the huge torrential rains Chennai received, the water in the tank wasnt adequate for the Theppam and the authorities resorted to pumping water into the tank.
(a view of the float in which the idol is carried, pic coutresy mylapore times)
Looking at the pictures I was transported back in time, to the time when I was a regular visitor of the temple Utsavam and Theppam. My first Theppam I went to was when I was around 8 years old, which happened to be the first time i even stepped onto a boat, or anything that floats on water and can support me, and I naturally was excited about actually stepping onto something that floats on water and resembles a boat. For the uninitiated, during the Theppam, the idol is carried around the temple tank, on a float and the devotees can travel around the tank along with the idol, the ten minutes I could travel on that float was fascinating experience, it was a totally mind-blowing experience for a 10 yr old who hadn’t gone on a boat all his life.
During any temple festival, either the Theppam of Utsavam, the entire mada veethi transform entirely, the vegetable market disappear. In its place will come the utsavam market, where the same vendors, who sell kariga, will sell everything from toys to household utensils. The utensil shop located at the junction of Rangachari Road and Ramakrishna mutt road, will make way for the fire station. For that period the entire area will resemble a miniature Ranganathan street. On the day Aruvatthu Moovar of the Panguni Utsavam, when the 63 Nayanmars are paraded around the Maada Veethi, almost the the entire South Madras will congregate at Mylapore, enjoying the neermore offered at various stalls. My personal favorite has been Bikshadanar, largely due to the fireworks display on that night. On the day of the Ther, I used to be really excited about climbing up the huge Chariot (it might not seem that big now, but for a 10-12 year old it was gigantic!!) and also watch the Chariot move.
Here are some images of the Theppam.
(a view of the float in which the idol is carried, pic coutresy mylapore times)
Looking at the pictures I was transported back in time, to the time when I was a regular visitor of the temple Utsavam and Theppam. My first Theppam I went to was when I was around 8 years old, which happened to be the first time i even stepped onto a boat, or anything that floats on water and can support me, and I naturally was excited about actually stepping onto something that floats on water and resembles a boat. For the uninitiated, during the Theppam, the idol is carried around the temple tank, on a float and the devotees can travel around the tank along with the idol, the ten minutes I could travel on that float was fascinating experience, it was a totally mind-blowing experience for a 10 yr old who hadn’t gone on a boat all his life.
During any temple festival, either the Theppam of Utsavam, the entire mada veethi transform entirely, the vegetable market disappear. In its place will come the utsavam market, where the same vendors, who sell kariga, will sell everything from toys to household utensils. The utensil shop located at the junction of Rangachari Road and Ramakrishna mutt road, will make way for the fire station. For that period the entire area will resemble a miniature Ranganathan street. On the day Aruvatthu Moovar of the Panguni Utsavam, when the 63 Nayanmars are paraded around the Maada Veethi, almost the the entire South Madras will congregate at Mylapore, enjoying the neermore offered at various stalls. My personal favorite has been Bikshadanar, largely due to the fireworks display on that night. On the day of the Ther, I used to be really excited about climbing up the huge Chariot (it might not seem that big now, but for a 10-12 year old it was gigantic!!) and also watch the Chariot move.
Here are some images of the Theppam.
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Posted by
Ramses |
2:45 PM
interesting account.
informative too, for a person like me who hardly knows madras and its tradition.
Ada paavi arrambichitiya! Puthu Payanathirku vazhthukal
Posted by
Ramses |
3:03 PM
cha!
I missed the theppam festival this time .. saw it on the last day from a bus :-(
but i also enjoy seeing all the platform shops and used to buy choppu-chaaman when i was der as a kid :-)
Posted by
Trinity Teal™ |
3:08 PM
living in chennai, i have visited only one time to Theppam. after visit the theppam, my mom told here after i will not take u to see theppam, because i used to ask my mom to buy (adampidichu) small cars and toys which sale around the tank.
Posted by
Jeevan |
7:03 PM
Superb pictures!
For the folks who missed Kapali kovil theppam - Triplicane Parthasarathy swamy temple Theppam will be from Feb.27 to March.5
Be right there and enjoy all that you missed. By the way, read my 'kirukkals' at www.popupwindow.blogspot.com :-)
Posted by
Revathi |
8:59 PM
nice to know - thanks for the photo link - if im not mistaken it goes on until chitra pournami right?
prior to that the thirukalyanam will be held
Posted by
visithra |
7:09 AM
@visit
i don think so, theppam is over, the utsavam goes on till chitra pournami i think
@revathi
thanks for droppin by and do come bck
@jeevan
adu undu, thrivazha la poittu car vangalai na no fun
@trinity teal
i also remeber gettin buying cars and stuff
@ramses
nandri
Posted by
ada-paavi!!!! |
12:59 PM
yaarappu titra....... url upadted :)
Cheers!
:)
Posted by
:: The Protector :: |
2:09 PM
Nice to know about the festival and wonderful picture.
Posted by
Hiren |
6:53 PM
hi vatsan,
the pics are really good, i have never been to the kapaliswarar temple. but i have enjoyed theppa thiruvizha of the perumal koil in our area. it was really nice when the theppa thiruvizha resumed in many parts of the city,after so many years due to water scarcity
Posted by
வேதா |
7:13 PM
ada paavi why this name change ;)
Posted by
Ganesh |
12:01 AM
ada paaavi...blog url la maathittaya???
Posted by
Vijay Ramamurthi |
3:33 AM
Vatsan,
Your blog look is nice. I like the Theppam Picture. Thought you have taken some Singapore theppam festival. Nice to know that Theppam is back again. It was interesting to know your firs experience of getting into the boat.
Posted by
Balaji S Rajan |
4:03 AM
@balaji sir
singaporil theppam? sir engai adukku ellam edam kadaiyathu
@vijay
ammammatthitten
@ganesh
chumma dhaan,
@veda
yes, after a loooong gap the theppa thiruvizha is taking place, and its a wonderful site
@hiren
thanks
@vishnu
nandri
Posted by
ada-paavi!!!! |
6:00 AM
Was it on purpose that u chose to stat the new url with a post on something devotional or was it coincidental??????????
Ada Paavi.... for a name like that u start with something so goody goody?!
Take care.
Rashmi.
Posted by
RandomThoughts |
9:29 AM
Hi Ada-paavi...
thats a good description of mylapore theppam. I was in mylapore while working with my earlier co... thats a traditional place indeed.
Posted by
Nirek |
10:20 AM
My dear watson, thanks for pimping my page ! Any how... Mylapore... Mylapore..... nice one re... btw, i'm moving really close by, guess we gonna be in the neighbourhood. Sometimes i wonder if thats a good thing or not.... hmmm..
Anyhows, hope we pass macro. Cheers
B a a a li
Posted by
AB |
12:55 PM
Have never seen it. SHould try and catch it next year..
Posted by
Vinesh |
3:48 PM
Of all that you said, one thing caught my attention in particular -"Neer mor"...wow~
Posted by
Casement |
6:50 PM
@casement
neer mor, is truly bliss during the chennai summers
@vinesh
thts is provided there is enuf rains, u can catch it
@azadbali
cool same area, then can enjoy the sights and sounds of mylapore
@satu
yep very traditional place with its own charm
@RT
totally coincidental, i chose the url long ago and booked it, its just now tht i decided to move
Posted by
ada-paavi!!!! |
6:37 AM
nice post..wish i could encounter these things here..enna panradhu....i rarely get time here...but monthly oru visit kovil k kandippa pannuven..:)..
Posted by
mystery |
7:35 AM
Is Mylapore times online? How did you get the pix?
Posted by
tilotamma |
1:19 AM
heyya i was luckyto see theppam this time..lovely experience.. i also dint miss the mylapore food festival.. though this year they had to restrict to fewer stalls..
Posted by
Hell's Angel |
11:48 AM
Hi folks, this is a post from MYLAPORE TIMES.
We are developing a web site and shd launch in June/July 2006. And it will be different from the weekly paper we publish every Saturday.
all major events in the neighbourhood though are covered on our sister web site - www.kutcheribuzz.com.
for the Panguni Fest, we have run two 30min long videos for 2006. Catch them quickly.
we also have loads of info, pictures and reports on our annual MYLAPORE FESTIVAL held in jan every year.
Go to www.mylaporefestival.com.
if you need anything to do with mylapore, feel free to email us at mylaporetimes@vsnl.com
btw, we also run a blog that will post features on everything to do with Mylapore's social history.
It is at www.my-mylapore.blogspot.com.
every mth, we post two large features with old pictures.
we hope this will go on to be the best archive on Mylapore.
Again an initiative from MYLAPORE TIMES.
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Posted by
Anonymous |
12:46 AM