Covering the Ernakulam Temple Utsavam 2018 / Behind Ernakulathappan Temple FB page
Ernakulathappan - Lord of Ernakulam.
HIS annual festival this year (2018) was from January 22-29.
And I was blessed to be the chosen one to cover it for the FaceBook page - Ernakulathappan Temple. Going 'Live' while all the melams were happening, taking small clippings of the various cultural activities and interviewing people...I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I remembered the story of a rich bhakt of Guruvayurappan who had a skin disease and a poor bhakt who needed money desperately. Guruvayurappan came in the dream of the rich man and asked him to bring along 100 gold coins in a red pouch, leave it on the banks of the pond and take a bath for instant cure. And HE came in the dream of the poor man and asked him to take a red pouch left on the banks of the pond. Thus HE solved both their problems.
This Utsavam coverage is like that for me. True, I got to see the Utsavam, but there is someone out there who was very desperate to see it. And Ernakulathappan wanted to answer that person's prayers of seeing the Utsavam.
One of my constant prayers to my favourite God (Lord Siva) is that I be put to use by HIM in the way HE deems fit.
Preamble:
It was sometime in late 2016 that I contacted the FaceBook page of Ernakulathappan Temple as they were not updating much and the page members were not getting ample information about the temple. That is when I came to know that the person running the page - Sreeraj, was based in Thiruvananthapuram and he would take many photos when he visited the temple and using those would update the page every now and then. In the beginning I started sending him images and sometime later he gave me 'Admin' rights to the FB page. Thus, I started off with posting pictures directly on the page.
I was very timid then and I did not know what the 'page likers' wanted.
Last year, in May when I posted a picture of Nandikeswara with just a cursory note - "What would you say in his ears?", we got a message from Mr. Aravind Mohan from Germany urging us to do more. It was like a wake up call for me and my interest got kindled.
Nandikeswara was next. Understanding the symbols associated with Nandi, HIS story and the message HE conveys proved to me that there was more to my temple than meets my eye. It was a sign for me to delve in deeper.
By the time I posted a write up on Ekadesi, I was confident that science and hinduism and symbolism were all closely linked. We just have to find the right stream to reach the sea of knowledge. And the readers were happy with the posts. As Spiderman's uncle said, "With great power, comes great responsibility". I had to write very carefully.
Coming back to Utsavam.....
By mid August, people from abroad had started contacting our page to know the utsavam dates of 2018 and I used this opportunity to find out how the dates of the utsavam are calculated. Makaram maasam Uttrattadhi to Tiruvathira. Yippee! And was I proud when the notice did come out confirming my calculation. :D
January 2018
Being a woman I was very worried about my monthly cycles. But HE knows best. And knowing my want to attend HIS utsavam, I got my periods ahead of schedule. This might sound quite unbecoming on a blogpost, but this needs to be mentioned. The amount of trauma a woman goes through for her periods coming at a time of festival; is unmentionable. We cannot enter the temple for 7 days. Depressing.
Vodafone is my service provider. They offered me a 40 GB pack for 3 months from December. And they promised to accumulate the unused amount in the next months cycle. I could not believe my ears. That is a lot of GB!!
My husband and I visit the temple every morning and we have a set of "friends" whom we see, but do not talk to but who would enquire where we were if we did not turn up for some days. One of them was the temple samithy president, Mr. Rajendra Prasad.
My dream was simple. A small area reserved for me to record the melams. While I had tried to do FB live last year, I was constantly jostled and pushed. The recording was not up to the mark. This year, I was hoping I could do better.
Renjith Warrier is the treasurer of Ernakulam Siva Kshetra Kshema Samithy. I know him.
And our old neighbor and good friend Mr. Adikayan was also part of the committee.
I was hoping that one of them would help me in getting a good spot reserved.
Whatever I was planning to do, I would have to do alone (with HIS help, ofcourse) as Sreeraj had joined a new company in Vazhakkala , Ernakulam and they consider punching out before 6 pm as half day leave. In spite of this the poor chap would rush from office and get some awesome photographs. I would know he came when I saw the photos. He NEVER interfered in what I did. Full freedom.
January 19
The day of Dwajapratishta. The temple chief percussionist - Harish Marar told me that there was a Madhala Keli in the evening and he could not explain it to me; but had to be seen. I tried calling Renjith, but he was busy and so I decided I would just walk into the temple and Ernakulathappan would help me.
On reaching the temple, I met Renjith there and told him of the help I needed. He asked me to come to the committee office in a little while.
The advocate devotees of Ernakulathappan presented HIM with new വെഞ്ചാമരം, ആലവട്ടം, കുട.
The madhala keli started and I got an urge to go Live of FB.
In between the recording, I asked Aswin (I will introduce him later) to hold my phone and prayed hard to Ernakulathappan to be with me while I met the committee.
I walked into the committee office with super confidence and I swear it was not I who stood in front of all the office bearers. The President recognised me and flashed a wide smile. Renjith proposed that I be given a volunteer badge as I wanted to do FB Live. One of the members had the audacity to say he would give me a badge on 27th. I stood with my hands on my hips like a bully. And said,"no, Not possible. പറ്റില്ല". I have never spoken in such a way before. How did I dare speak so brashly? Surely it was not me. If it were me, I would have just walked out meekly.
Thus it was decided that I would get a badge on the day it was to be issued to others.
I have to talk about my family. My husband is very nice man who loves home cooked food. We have 3 different meals in a day as I love to cook and my family loves what I cook. But during the days of the festival, he was super accommodating and did not once make me feel bad for not doing my kitchen chores in the way I know he likes. I would do mass cooking and leave. He understood my need to be at the temple and on many days had cereal for breakfast (something he does not mind, but I look down upon) and had dinner from restaurants or leftovers. And he would pick me up at unearthly hours and sometimes I would leave much before he got up without even saying bye. And thank goodness, there was no school. It was study holidays for my daughter. If school had been working.....
On January 21, 2018, Sunday, the day before the utsavam was to start, there was a family get together and I did not know even then that I would cover the utsavam so much.
Anyway, on that day I took photographs of the the daily program from the temple notice, edited and scheduled each to be published on FB on the necessary dates.
January 22:
The day the utsavam starts. Padmasri Peruvanam Kuttan Marar was doing the melam.
I had recorded his performance the year before and even then he had played a short melam on the southern side and asked me to record the same with gestures. I can never forget the feeling I got, when he played that tune there and kept looking in my direction.
I reached the temple by 8 am without having any breakfast, without proper equipment; thinking that the melam would have started. But it had not. I got to see the handsome elephants getting decorated.
I took a spot at the western gate thinking how bright I am!! And melam started on the northern side. :D But thankfully I got a good spot and could cover the melam quite well. Kuttan marar saw me standing there and smiled as well!! I suppose standing in one position with a long stick has it's perks!!
So, I was standing and recording the melam when Aswin, came and stood near me. (i told you I would introduce him later. Aswin is the son of Ajith sir, and he frequently gets atop the elephant holding the tidambu.) He peeped into my phone, went to the Ernakulathappan Temple FB page and typed "wow with 2 heart eyes", posted it and looked into my phone to see if it was displayed on mine!! So cute!! :D
When the melam went to the next spot near Ayyappan's nada, I ended up standing in quite an awkward position with a bamboo pole in front of me. Moving the selfie stick was hilarious. I had to exchange it to either hand from the other side of the pole. My battery was running low and phone started heating up. I was afraid that the telecast would end abruptly and wrote the same on the page. And that was when I was asked "why?" by Mr. Satishan Melangath. That meant someone was bothered!! Also Ms. Remani Nandakumar wanted to know what was to be done 'next'. When I said probably I would telecast the kodiyettam in the evening....she got so happy!
My battery was at 20% by the time Kuttan Marar started to Parvathy's nada. I held back and he strained his neck to look for me. So I told him I was going - in actions. He asked me why (again in action). I pointed to me stomach to say I was hungry....And he lifted his 'kollu' to his lips to tell me to drink water!! WOW! I stood around for some time and decided I would rush home, have breakfast get the power bank and come back to the temple. And that was just what I did.
I recorded the Melam from both Southern and Ernakulathappan's nada and then held back to meet the maestro. He said to me when we met, "ഞാൻ പറയണo എന്ന് വിചാരിച്ചതാ; 2 ദോശ കഴിച്ചിട്ട് വേഗം പൊരു എന്ന് .....നന്നായി തിരികെ വന്നത് ". It seems he wanted to tell me to come back fast after eating 2 dosas. And he was glad I came back.
He enquired about my family and he took a picture with me!!
An ഓട്ടൻതുള്ളൽ performance started soon...
I had not got my Volunteer badge. So, I went to meet some 'officials' inside the കലവറ (store room) to get the same.
This badge would be around my neck for the next 7 - 8 days.
It was time to head back home....And that was when I realised my chappal got stolen.
Evening it was the 'കോടി എറ്റം" or flag hoisting.
But first things first. I found a lady who takes care of chappal, paid her more than ₹5 / pair and kept my slippers under her care. I trusted no one other than her through the days of the utsavam. My whole family got to know her and she also helped in passing messages if necessary, as the loud noises prevented phone conversations.
By the time I reached the flag pole, a huge crowd had gathered there and were jostling. I was forced to go Live much before the actual function started and I ended up holding my selfie stick high for 55 minutes. In those 55 minutes, I got my first scolding from a man who asked if only I had to see the function. He asked me to bring down the 'കൊല്' (stick). If only he knew that many people were watching through the 'stick'!!
January 23
I had not really liked the fact that the kodiyettam or Flag hoisting had been recorded over 52 minutes. That was when I remembered my daughter telling me about a feature in the iPhone for screen recording. I felt so tech-savvy when I screen recorded the flag hoisting for 85 seconds and posted it on the page!
I took a print-out "Ernakulathappan Temple FaceBook Admin" and stuck it on my volunteer badge's back side.
At the temple, it was Cherussery Kuttan marar's melam. Live recorded it for nearly 2 hours.
I decided to show some elephants while the melam was ending at Ernakulthappan's nada.
ആശാൻ of Harish Marar
After the melam, an ഓട്ടൻതുള്ളൽ (ottanthullal) performance started...which I covered for a mere 3 minutes as I was late for lunch.
In the evening, there were many cultural programmes at the temple. My husband dropped me off at the temple at 6.45 and I decided to do walk through the various shops set up around the temple which are an integral part of any festival.
But during the walk I was asked by some of my viewers to get back to the temple, to catch the melam!! :D
I got a good position to stand and recorded the melam from Parvathy's nada.
After watching some elephants again, it was time to move on.
There are so many people who work behind the scenes to make a festival a success. There is a notice board near the committee office and always the next day's programme is written in chaste malayalam on it. At last I found out who was responsible! A person I know very well...Mrs. Mahima Subramaniam.
At the south-eastern corner, പാഠകം (paadakom) by Kalamandalam Easwaran Unni was going on. And Thayambaka by Paiyyavoor Narayana Marar started at Ernakulathappan's nada.
January 24
My parents's wedding anniversary and I forgot to wish them. So, my mother informed me the same and I wished them!!😀
The morning started off with melam by Peruvanam Shankaranarayanan Marar. As per the notice Sateeshan Marar was to perform and the elephant - Guruvayur Padmanabhan was to hold the തിടമ്പു (the small representative idol of the Lord).The elephant holding the tidambu was Madurapuram Kannan. This caused an uproar on FB!! People were not happy and they took out their anger on me. A person went as far as asking why the notices are print with the false names.
At Sri Parvathy's nada I got an amazing spot (usually taken by Priya and Aiswarya) to record the melam.
When I went to take Live from Ernakulathappan's nada, I was helped by a ഉണ്ട കുട്ടി who studies in 7th at Bhavan's Girinagar. He was so cute and had come to see the melam as it was 'study leave'!!
While I was recording these melams, we got a message from Mr. Anand Venkitakrishnan, "Thank you for the coverage so far. Excellent. Could you please share details of the recording device? Mobile or camera. Sound quality is as good as hearing it live. Thanks."
iPhone 7.....Please take a bow!! And I called my brother who had gifted me this phone last May.
Ootanthullal started soon after melam.
I had informed തിരുമേനി / melshanti (the chief priest) in the morning that I would like to record him while he spoke on his experiences with Ernakulathappan and about the utsavam. Before recording this I went to meet the Kshema samithy President, Mr. Rajendra Prasad and he readily agreed to go Live on FB!
Following this I went to see തിരുമേനി . And while waiting there a man butted in the queue which contained another person and I. He apologised to me and I said that I would say openly if I were unhappy and there was no need for him to feel bad.
He asked what I was doing there and when I said I was waiting to interview the priest, he took one look at Hari Namboodiri and said,"See how തെജസ്വി (tejaswi) he looks?" and explained it was only because of the constant chanting of the vedas. He adequately embarrassed the priest before moving on!! This person was Mr. Veeramani Iyer from Perinthalmanna. (Before leaving I gave him my number and he called me in the evening. He spoke for 30 minutes over the phone and told me to do constant japa of Chamundeswari ; the supreme ശക്തി (sakthi).)
Following this I got a small clipping of the chief priest. It was nice to hear him talk about how his mother's 'jada' got instant relief after എള്ള് തുലാഭാരം (til tulabharam) at the temple.
While I went to record the evening's melam by Peruvanam Shankaranarayanan Marar, I got a space which was not so good. That was when a person I have met in the temple before moved some people and invited me to stand in the front!! Wow..That's nice! :D
There were various programmes happening in all the 3 sides of the temple. On January 24, Radhakrishnanji's troupe was performing ഭക്തി ഗാന തരംഗിണി (Bhakti Gaana tharangini). Madhu Balakrishnan was singing and there was huge crowd to hear him. I recorded 3 songs, one sung by Vinod chettan and 2 by Madhu - "Amma yendru azhaikatha" and "Kannanu neythikyaan". After coming home I saw on the FB page 2 entries for the 'amma' song and I tried to delete one. But both entries got deleted...what a loss. Never will I do this deleting business again.
There was double tayambaka by Manjeri Haridas & Kalanilayam Udayan Namboothiri and I really wanted to record it fully. But even after 1 hour 19 minutes, it did not get over and time was past 10 pm.
That evening while I was waiting for my husband to come and pick me up, I met the famous lyricist and poet Mr. Damodaran. He promised to give me 2 minutes of his time for Ernakulathappan's sake!! (sadly the interview never happened.)
Our FB page was getting flooded with photographs, information requests, kind words of appreciatopn and some suggestions. It felt nice to get in touch with our viewers. And I found some good friends through this; who really helped me and 'had my back'.
January 25
Melam was by Peruvanam Prakashan Marar. And the elephant holding the tidambu was Eerattupetta Ayyappan.
I had told our own Marar - Harish in the morning over a phone call that I wanted to interview him. In the afternoon after the melam, he refused to attend to my phone calls and also he would not look up at my face when I met him. He has promised that he would give me an interview in a future date - after the 'outsiders' leave.
Photo Courtesy: Ernakulathappan Temple FB page
On all the days of Utsavam till now, the കുഴൽ പ്രമാണി (the maestro leading the kuzhal instrument) was Urakom Anil and Urakom Suresh. I had wanted to interview them and I got enough courage when they smiled at me during the melam. And they were quite amused when I asked them to talk about the utsavam they had been attending for so many years. I am still wondering if I must have given them more breathing time after the melam before recording my interview. But the interaction went off well.
I met Mahesh, from Ganesh Residency for the first time. Mahesh is a person who really helped me in the days that followed. He is a person with strong opinions and does not mince words. He asked me pointed questions about what I was doing and why. He does not have Whatsapp or Facebook and considers both പണി മുടക്കു or waste of time. He is great at locations. He knows where to stand to get the best view. "35 വർഷത്തെ experience-a". His words.
That evening was the dance performance by Mahima Subramaniam and her daughter. (Remember the lady who writes on the black board?? She works in Dhanalakshmi Bank and was my neighbour in Thrissur. We both say that we were transferred by our Punkunnathappan to Ernakulathappan's care!!)
When I reached the venue of the melam, the place where I usually stand was extremely crowded. But I found a spot to do the "live" recording from. There was this man whom I requested to move a little inside as he was blocking my view. Because of him, I was forced to extend my selfie stick out and my arm really hurt. He just would not budge and seemed to find great pleasure in moving his body further into the crowd. Grrrr...
Mr. Ramesh Kamath asked me if people were aware that I was recording this? I said that it was not really necessary that people know. People on FB know that we go live, that is all. "But you have the badge!", was his comment.
Mr. Ramesh Kamath asked me if people were aware that I was recording this? I said that it was not really necessary that people know. People on FB know that we go live, that is all. "But you have the badge!", was his comment.
I usually put my phone on DND mode while I start recording and always carry another phone in which my family can contact me. And this day my friend kept calling me on my number forcing my Live transmission to get cut. I sent a curt message - 'Don't call' and felt so bad all through the recording. The person who had called is a very soft spoken kind individual (Mrs. Chitra Laxman) and she was so apologetic. Her phone was redialing without her knowledge.
I had had enough of melam recording; as my hand hurt real bad and decided to watch some elephants while the melam got over at Ernakulathappan's nada.
Classical music by Smt.Gayatri Venkitaraghavan from Chennai was going on at the northern side of the temple.
This photo was taken while I was doing the Live. See Mr.Mana Mahadevan's name? He used to keep writing in during every program; just one word - Watching. Seeing this really meant a lot to me while recording.
As the Sheeveli / Vilakku ezhunalippu started at the temple, I rushed back inside and I got an idea of doing the 3 rounds with HIM. The camera-work was extremely poor as I was running forward with eyes to the back!😃 The recording of 11 minutes was hugely satisfying inspite of this. The Tidambu is very different from the Kazcha sheeveli (കാഴ്ച ശീവേലി) one - smaller and silver(?).
Post this I wanted to get a sound bite of the Dewasom Officer, Mr.Ramakrishnan. I sort the help of Renjith for this and the officer kindly agreed. He knows my father as he had been working in Urakom when the idol of the goddess got stolen from there and my father had been engaged by the insurance company for the survey.
As I was walking out, I saw 4 foreigners standing outside enjoying the melam. I asked them if they knew English. When they said yes, I asked for their interview. The 3 women agreed to be interviewed; but not the man. While conducting the interview, a woman barged in and started talking to them. You will see that incredulous expression on the face of Mollie Hilton!! I had a tough time fending that woman off while the camera was running. (Why is there no basic etiquette? How can her sister being in London, be a great piece of information for the tourists from Manchester?)
And while conducting the interview, my unprofessional-ism came through when I started showing off my temple's festival and tried to help them with the time when they could attend the festival the next morning without turning off the camera. I edited this part out before publishing.
And while conducting the interview, my unprofessional-ism came through when I started showing off my temple's festival and tried to help them with the time when they could attend the festival the next morning without turning off the camera. I edited this part out before publishing.
Post the interview a person accredited by the "Press" started questioning my veracity, my publication etc. When I told him I am doing this for the FB page of Ernakulathappan; you must have seen his face...he realised I was a non-threat and I became a worm instead of a cobra in his eyes!! :D
As I was getting ready for bed, Mr. Nikhil Sukumaran asked me if I could interview some melam pramanis too. Yes, I would...sure! It was anyway on my mind.
26 January
Republic day of India. There was a flag hoisting in our apartment but I did not attend it as I had to finish my cooking. And my neighbors started teasing me for being a bad Indian.Yikes!
Melam was by Peruvanam Sateeshan Marar. The temple was to see unprecedented rush as the Long weekend was starting. When the melam reached Parvathy's nada, I still had no idea who was holding the Tidambu. A small boy was standing near me. I asked him to rush and find out the name of the elephant holding HIM. And tidambu was on on Parmekkavu Padmanabhan. This boy studies in Chennai and comes down to Ernakulam during the Pongal holidays. You will see him standing at the very end wearing a green and navy blue t-shirt. He is now my FB friend!! :D
While this melam was going on, Anil chettan decided I had to interview Peruvanam Sateeshan Marar. And he started showing actions......
Meet the father-son duo who are part of our temple - Murali anna and Shyam Krishna.
By the time melam reached Ernakulathappan's nada....the number of people had burgeoned and I stood on the nadapura to catch a glimpse. Some viewers were not too happy and wanted me to get closer. It was just not possible.
But this place made it very easy for me to rush to see the fireworks (കൂട്ട വെടി)...Ear deafening!
After recording Narayaneeyam which was chiefly recorded for my mother-in-law, who was watching it live through my brother-in-law's phone, I went in search of Urakam Anil chettan. They were upstairs past the kitchen...where food was being served to the melam people and family.
Mahesh took me up here and left me to find Anil Chettan who was to introduce me to Peruvanam Sateeshan Marar. But Marar was no where to be seen. Anil Chettan and Suresh Chettan tried to teach me the rhythm format or 5 താളം having 96, 48, 24, 12 and 6 alphabets each.
I do not understand Melam's nuances but I record it for the viewer's sake. But it is tough to stand still while melam a going on - whether you know the nuances or not!
I had a beautiful view of the Sheedangan thullal by Kalamandalam Prabhakaran and team from here.
Sateeshan Marar Sir came back and told me that he had gone out with his relatives for coffee and snack. He agreed to chat with me and I told him my questions. I told him I wanted to hear him speak about his origins, his masters and how it is to perform in Ernakulathappan temple. He first spoke for 6 minutes on this. And this was what was put up on our page.
But he did not stop there. He talked about his അമ്മാവൻ (mother's brother) and his masters more. Then he decided he would talk about Peruvanam, thrissur pooram and much more. He was joined by Peruvanam Shankaranarayana Marar and the conversation just flowed for another 30 minutes!! I did not share these 2 videos with the FB page as it was too long. Please click the links above to see it.
But he did not stop there. He talked about his അമ്മാവൻ (mother's brother) and his masters more. Then he decided he would talk about Peruvanam, thrissur pooram and much more. He was joined by Peruvanam Shankaranarayana Marar and the conversation just flowed for another 30 minutes!! I did not share these 2 videos with the FB page as it was too long. Please click the links above to see it.
While I was leaving the temple, Aneesh Menon wrote in to saying, "Really amazed to see the mobile up in the air among the crowd". And it was appreciation like this that pushed me on.
In the evening, I was not going to repeat my previous day's mistake by reaching the temple late. My arm would not forgive me. When I went to the spot which I wanted, there was a notice and a key placed there. I moved it aside and took over the spot. Two ladies sitting on the opposite side tried to dissuade me. I said, no one can reserve. The person who had 'reserved' was the same fellow who had given me a hard time the day before.
Conversation that followed....
"ഞാൻ ഇവിടെ ചാവി വെച്ചിട്ടു പോയത് , എനിക്കു ഈ സ്ഥലം വേണം എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞിട്ടാ."
"അങ്ങനെ വച്ചിട്ട് പോയാൽ, ഈ സ്ഥലം നിങ്ങളുടേത് ആകുമോ ?"
"ഈ ആൾ അല്ലേ, ഇന്നലെ പിന്നിൽ നിന്നതു ? ഞാൻ ഇവിടെ നില്കുന്നത് കണ്ടതല്ലേ ?"
"കണ്ടു. ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളുടെ അടുത്ത് ഒന്ന് മാറി നിൽക്കാൻ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ നിങ്ങൾ മാറി ഇല്ലല്ലോ? എന്തു ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടിച്ചു എന്നെ നിങ്ങൾ. ഞാൻ മാറില്ല, വേണം എങ്കിൽ എന്റെ പുറകിൽ നിന്നൊള്ളു."
"പറ്റില്ല. എനിക്ക് ഈ സൈഡ് വേണും. "
"തരില്ല. ഷെയർ വേണമെങ്കിൽ ചെയ്യാം."
"അതു ശെരിയാകില്ല. Danger ആണ്."
"ഒരു danger രും ഇല്ല. ഞാൻ മാറില്ല. എവിടെ തന്നെ നില്ക്കും. ഞാൻ official permission വാങ്ങിച്ചിട്ടു ആണ് ഇതു ചെയ്യുന്നേ. നിങ്ങൾ മാത്രേ എവിടെ നിന്നാൽ കാണു. ഇതു വഴി എത്ര പേരാ കാണനേ എന്ന് നിങ്ങൾക്കു അറിയോ?"
And I stood my ground, clinging to the pillar. He was not very happy, but I was not bothered.
And do you remember the guy who asked about the equipment used as the sound was great? Anand Venkitakrishnan? He found me, shook hands and left. Similarly some of the സ്ഥിരം കുറ്റി's came by to say Hi.
I asked the viewers to write in from where they are watching the program from. And while I usually right swipe the comments, I left the section on for the man behind me to read. Dubai, Chennai, Canada, USA, Saudi Arabia and there were people watching from inside the temple too!!
And do you remember the guy who asked about the equipment used as the sound was great? Anand Venkitakrishnan? He found me, shook hands and left. Similarly some of the സ്ഥിരം കുറ്റി's came by to say Hi.
I asked the viewers to write in from where they are watching the program from. And while I usually right swipe the comments, I left the section on for the man behind me to read. Dubai, Chennai, Canada, USA, Saudi Arabia and there were people watching from inside the temple too!!
The picture below was taken by Sreeraj (the other person running this page). He came and did not tell me he did!! You can see how I felt. I was so tense!
The Melam was thunderous and amazing. Peruvanam Sateeshan Marar performed so well, in front of Parvathy nada.
After the melam performance at the Parvathy nada there was no way, I could get a spot at Ernakulathappan's nada. So I decided to show the elephants and the euphoria of the crowd instead. I titled the video "Elephants for 50% of video, rest is the euphoria of the crowd as the melam gets over." And you will not believe it...It was exactly 50%! 6 minutes of elephants and 6 minutes of the euphoric crowd. How?
The queue to reach the koota vedi was long, but I reached in time to record it. It was amazing!! I did wonder about my phones speakers / ear piece....
Sangeetha Sadas by Sruthi Sagar , J B Keerthana and party was at the Northern venue and the singer looked very pretty and had dressed up so well. (Now you know how much of a music lover I am!)
Double thayambaka by the Pallasana sisters started inside the temple in the western side. It was the first time 2 ladies were performing thayambaka together.
Kurathi attom at the southern side. And the band - Masala Coffee was performing at DH ground. By the time I went there....it ended!
But thankfully, Sreeraj had come and he had taken some pictures. As usual I did not know this until the pictures were uploaded!
27 January
Sixth day Melam by Tirumarayoor Rajesh Marar and Indrasenan was holding the Tidambu.
Usually by the time I reach Parvathy's nada after recording at the other places, there would not be any good place to stand. See the fellow with closed crop hair standing in between the 2 pillars? He is Sukesh. He works in the Hanuman temple and he is the fellow who would pull me up and allow me to stand at the place where he is standing in this picture so that I can record well.
And the person enjoying in the blue checks shirt, is my own....Harish...my husband.
After the melam, I met Chandni Krishna. She is our friend's daughter, recently married and settled in Mumbai. She flies down from wherever she is to attend the utsavam. I decided to interview her. Her interview became so famous she even got a hashtag!! The next morning she got partly hounded by people who wanted to follow her virtually. :D
After this interview, Krishnan asked me if I had seen the foreigner in mundu who comes every year? I said no.
Guess what? He passed by just then. I ran behind him and thus got Mr. Gian Antonio Fabris's interview! He is sort of a tourist guide who brings in people from Italy for ayurvedic treatment. While I wrapped up the interview, he told me that he used to import handicrafts from India years ago and his main supplier's company was called Anuradha. "You are close to my heart, I know you for many years!!" Suddenly a woman left the 'annadhanam' queue and asked him ,"Your name? Where you from?" and did not like it when I answered instead of him. Not until she got an handshake from Gian did she leave!
Guess what? He passed by just then. I ran behind him and thus got Mr. Gian Antonio Fabris's interview! He is sort of a tourist guide who brings in people from Italy for ayurvedic treatment. While I wrapped up the interview, he told me that he used to import handicrafts from India years ago and his main supplier's company was called Anuradha. "You are close to my heart, I know you for many years!!" Suddenly a woman left the 'annadhanam' queue and asked him ,"Your name? Where you from?" and did not like it when I answered instead of him. Not until she got an handshake from Gian did she leave!
Evening was boring as there was no melam. Chengottai Harihara Subramaniam and Party's Bhajan was going on and I had been asked to record it fully by Chitra Ramaswamy and Jayasree manni . But it was so boring for me. Looks like I like melam after all...or is it the energy?
A young boy - Devanarayanan, did a Keyboard Kutchery. That child is in 7th and the way he plays the keyboard while looking around and having a non-chalant expression makes you wonder if he is actually belting out those tunes!! His grandfather was such a proud man and was proding him to play more and was quite depressed he did not play - Alaipayuthe.
Next was a Sangeetha Kutchery by Mr.Ajith Namboodiri. My neighbour's son had told me to tilt my camera from Portrait mode to Landscape mode when I was taking a video and I followed his (disastrous) advice. Did not repeat it again.
After barely covering the ottanthullal, I proceeded to socialise! Mr. Sreedutt Mohan usually pulls me up to the place I stand in front of Parvathy's nada in the evening. (Sukesh in the morning!!) Even though I had met him, I had not actually spoken to him. He had grown up in the vicinity of the temple and he informed me that his cousin from USA (Paru?) had called to say that she had seen the utsavam live over FB. His brother - Navneet Mohan had flown in from Mumbai to attend it too and it seems he too used to watch the melam on FB before he came down to Cochin for the long weekend.
Since I was feeling pretty bored, I ventured to DH ground. Rajasri Warrier, was to perform Bharatanatyam at 7.30 pm. I reached the venue to find loads of people enjoying themselves. Families were snacking on peanuts, kids were playing with balloons, there was chaat for sale.....I saw Damodaran Sir running around.
Later Nikhil Sukumaran informed me through the Page, that the temple committee was supposed to arrange carpet for the danseuse to perform on, but it never came.
Another person informed me that she cut short her performance and danced for 1 hour....only because of her respect for Damodaran Sir.
I knew that Bhagavan would go for പറ on Layam Road and Thottekkat Road. I contacted (another) Nikhil - Nikhil Krishna; whose home is opposite Kalyan Silks. He told me his uncle and aunt currently reside there and he lives somewhere else. I told him to inform them that I would be coming over to meet them. As the dance programme did not start I walked back, took my chappals and made my way to Nikhil's aunt's house.
Mrs. Jaya Vaidyanathan asked me to wait at her home till the പറ comes...whole 3 hours later. I told her I would go home, have dinner and come back. I gave her my number and asked her to call me if she felt the para was nearing their home.
On my way Mahesh joined me. He told me to take a look at Kalyan Silk's para decorations. It was amazing! There was so many vilakku, a huge idol of Siva and many paras filled with vegetables. There were 4 ladies drawing kolam.
Just as I reached home, I got a call from Mrs. Jaya saying the elephant had been spotted. I rushed back to find that Kalyan silks had engaged their own melam and elephant!!
After the false alarm, my husband (express driver) drove me back home, I had dinner, took a bath and reached Kalyan Silks with family by around 10.45 pm.
I had known there was Utsava Bali that afternoon. But since most of the vedic rituals were inside the temple, I did not cover it. Mahesh told me that there had been Utsava Bali sheegra paradakshinam also that afternoon. People run around the temple thrice and that is why it is called ശീഗ്ര പ്രദക്ഷിണം (sheegra pradakshinam). I was not aware of this, but Mahesh had a friend, Mr.Vishal Menon who would send me a video clip. And I met Vishal at Kalyan silks. He said that he had thought I would be young....I said I was young, but not young enough for him to flirt!!
While waiting at Kalyan Silks, the elephant passed by and I started going 'live' only to realise that para would first be finished in 2 houses on T D Road before coming to Thottekkat Road. I went to ask Ramakrishnan sir what was happening. The Dewasom Officer teased me , "വേറേ പണി ഒന്നും ഇല്ലേ?" but he explained to me what was happening.
So, I wrote on FB," 😬!! HE will come back! HE proceeded from Layam road to the road behind Maharaja’s college to visit 2 houses. The dewasom officer informed that HE will come to Thottekatt Road after those 2 houses!"
And I got a comment which wanted me to be more religious and not sound like a cricket commentary or edge of seat thriller. Come on, have a funny bone. I had made a fool of myself and owned up.
When the elephant did come to Kalyan Silks, there were some youngsters dancing away, who were too involved in the melam to move! After the Para in front of Kalyan Silks, there were fireworks.
Now a Ms.Shetty developed a problem with me calling Ernakulathappan - HE / HIM. It seems it sounded disrespectful like അവൻ / ഇവൻ for her. I said that in English language God can be called HE if both the alphabets are in caps!
January 28
Long day this Sunday!!
വെലിയ വിളക്ക് (Veliya vilakku)
Padmasri Mattanoor Shankarankutty Marar was doing the melam. Elephant holding tidambu was Kuttankulangara Arjunan.
There was another person, Harish Eledath; an elephant lover!! He wanted me to keep showing the elephants!
Preetha was constantly in tears as she had gotten married recently and shifted to North Carolina and was missing the Utsavam badly.
Sujith Sivaram was in Singapore but missed Ernakulam.
Radha Subramaniam had kind words always, Haridas Menon always wrote 'namaste' just like Devi Menon.
Jaya Lakshmy was just happy to see her town's utsavam and Mohan Das was always saying "Super"! Remani was always worried if I would do 'live' the next programme!
I have not personally written/interacted with any of them, but these were my daily viewers with 'personalities' who always wrote when I went 'live'.
And there were so many people helping me with my mistakes. When some one points out that Thottekkat Lane അല്ലാ , but Thottekkat Road; another told me it was not melam, but Panchavadhyam being played at Diwan's Road! Ever grateful.
In between I got a good photographer friend - Manoj Gopalakrishnan. He would send me good images he took through the day and I could post those awesome pictures on the page. Cannot thank him enough for sharing them. I have seen him, but do not know him yet. God finds people like that for helping you out, I suppose.
After the melam, I was recording some ചിടുങ്ങാച്ചിs singing some songs....
and went to see the പ്രസാദ ഊട്ടു (temporary annakshetra / dining area). The queue was extremely long and I had no plans of having food there. I did not want to flaunt my pass and irk the people in the queue. Thankfully, the President saw me and invited me inside.
The arrangements were huge!
And for the first time I was welcomed by the committee! President sir said,"Whole World കാണും...Live ആണ് live".
They got hold of important people and asked me to get their views. Thus, I recorded the interview of the Ward member and CDB member.
Krishnamani anna, wanted me to take his video too and I happily obliged!! But Krishnamani anna completely degressed from his topic and forgot what he had to say. If you look carefully, you will see him raising his eyebrows (38 seconds) as I was drawing a 'dosa' on air to remind him to talk about Pai dosa.
The people there started calling me 'media' and I corrected them. Then they said,"You are part of social media, right?" But that is not really media!
After these interviews, I went back to the temple and got to see Bhagavan...
I came back home and when I tried to take rest, my mind would not quieten. Pakal pooram had started on Diwan's road. My husband and I went there in an auto.
I wanted to see a Para being done from inside a house and thus went in search of familiar faces who would introduce me to some house owner. I can say with confidence that everyone looks at me with much curiosity. And everyone is ready to help if you ask. Mr. Ramakrishnan (father of Aparna) introduced me to Mr. Gopinath and his wife and they allowed me to enter their compound. Thus, I got a view of the para from Gopinath sir's residence. It's true I could have recorded the para from outside, but this way the viewers could see HIM better.
Panchavadyam had proceeded at a good pace before the para aka the tidambu holding elephant. So the para was not having enough ധo....
I went to record the panchavadyam and saw that there was a huge crowd standing around it. Sopanam singer Mr.Balakrishnan saw me and suggested that I climb the staircase which was near the percussion to get a good view. I was not sure they would let me climb their private staircase, but if you don't ask, you never know. The lady standing at the gate was my 'Vishnu Sahasranamam acquaintance' from Hanuman temple! She allowed me to climb the stairs and what a view I got of the panchavadhyam!
Lakshmy Subramaniam said,"I used to stay in Warriam road. I used to see this mela every year..Thanks for this."
Seeing me on top, meant many more photographers wanted the vantage point. But they came only after I left.
The volunteers were all young boys and they were dressed up in uniform. I had seen them 2 days before in black kurta; today it was blue.
When I reached DH ground, there were 12 elephants lined up. Three were coming in to make the total 15. I wanted to get a closer view and many people were sitting around. I asked one woman to give me a little space to step across and she was the rudest person I ever met. She tried to push me away and I nearly fell.
The umbrellas for കുട മാറ്റം were lined up and they were in so many colours.
A little while later, Ernakulathappan's silver umbrella വെള്ളി കുട came. It seems there is also a golden umbrella. I was very close to it, but did not see it.
I really wanted to stand inside the barricade; protected from the crowd which had filled up DH ground. I sought the help of the blue ജുബ്ബ volunteers and stood inside the barricade. Thankfully my pass helped.
Mr. Aravind V Nair had wanted to know the names of the elephants for the 'pakal pooram'. While I was waiting for the kuda mattom to start, I met Mr. Mahesh, an elephant loving Lawyer. When I asked him to help me name the elephants, he delegated that duty to his son (Vignesh) studying in 9th. His son stared at the elephants face and named them as we would do any human!!
പുതുപള്ളി കേശവൻ was holding the tidambu.
The കുട മാറ്റം started. While this was going on, people were invited to come inside the barricade and donate money (കണിക്യ) at the സ്വർണ്ണ കുട (golden umbrella). I was standing there filming the changing umbrellas and a policeman started getting angry.
"നിങ്ങൾ കാരണം ആണ് , എല്ലാവരും ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് ഫോട്ടോ എടുക്കുന്നേ."
"It is only because of you that the people are taking photos standing here."
As much as I tried to explain to him that I had got official permission to be there, he would not agree! There is no point in talking to people who will not listen. So, ignore. My head would not move from my screen after this.
While standing there I met Mr. Suresh, a രസികൻ character. He works for the Dewasom Board and is in charge of utsavams.
He would point out people and would mumble under his breath for me to hear.
"അയാൾ പൊങ്ങച്ചക്കാരനാ."
"അയാൾ ശെരിയല്ല."
"തല്ലിപ്പൊളി". :D
He started calling me 'മാമി'. I tried hard to dissuade him but he insisted. Sigh!
While the umbrella changing was going on, I got requests from many viewers which I tried to comply to. Of course, Haridas Eledath wanted me to show ONLY elephant. "Pls show full coverage" and "Once more full coverage"; were his constant refrains.
I loved the way people from Kuwait, Singapore and '9500 kms away' started discussing the elephants! I felt a sense of pride; like a mother whose children are getting together?! :D
Then the viewers wanted to see the melam. But I could not budge.
And when I did turn the camera, I had no idea what I was showing them....but they were kind enough to write in....
Suddenly at 8.30 pm, the melam stopped! And we did not know why. I did not realise this, but the viewers did. Aswin walked in and even he did not know why. But luckily one viewer answered the query.
While I had been covering the kuda mattam, I really wanted to move around and take pictures of the elephants, but I got scolded nicely when I attempted to walk across. So I solicited the help of Mr. Suresh. "മാമി, വാ. ഞാൻ കൊണ്ട് പോകാം." And I took the photos of all the elephants!! Full time Sureshji was munching on 'കപ്പലണ്ടി' (groundnuts) he would either take from people in the crowd or on the നെല്ല് (whole rice grain) which was left over from the para!!
The vedikettu started soon after. After the vedikettu, I went back into the temple to catch the last of the pakal pooram in front of Ernakulathappan's nada.
Jayasree chechi had been a very sweet helpful lady all through. If I ask her some questions regarding the festival; she used to either answer it or help me find out the answer. She sits at her small make-shift counter writing receipts for 'annadhanam' etc. She had wanted me to photograph her, but God made me interview her instead. And the way her voice choked up when she talked about Ernakulathappan.....
There were many things happening that night / early morning, when Bhagavan would go for പള്ളി വേട്ട / hunting. I could not stay but Vishal sent me the videos at 3 am. First of the Vilakku pradhakshinam, then sopana sangeetham by Mr.Balakrishnan ( the one who suggested I climb the staircase at Diwan's road to get a good view of the panchavadyam) and last of the palli vetta.
I especially loved the way God makes HIS demands and the people agree to it by saying ആ ആ (yes, yes). The ആർപ്പൂ ഇർറോ bit made me feel bad for having missed seeing it!!
January 29
After the 'hunting expedition', Lord Siva is not allowed inside HIS sanctum, but must sleep outside. The cry of a calf would wake HIM up the next day. This happens usually past 7 am. I reached the temple at sharp 7 am and HE was already awake and was being given a bath inside. This is the only day when a turmeric bath (മഞ്ഞൾ അഭിഷേകം) is done to the Lord.
I wanted someone to explain these to the viewers; someone who comes daily to the temple and thus I interviewed Mr. Ramesh Kamath. During the course of the interview he voiced that youngsters are not taking part enthusiastically in the functions. I did not agree with him, but this started gnawing me. I had seen so many youngsters who were taking part with full fervor in all the activities. But that is his opinion.
Mr. Ramesh now calls me his sister and not 'maam' and insists I call him Ramesh as he says he is younger to me mentally!! He met me the same evening and told that 3 of his friends had seen the interview and called him in appreciation. And it seems he said ,"My new sister took it!!" :D
I was lucky to get some of the Turmeric which had been used to give HIM a bath.
In some time there was a nadaswara kutchery. Krishnamani anna made me go in front and take a clip of them performing. He said that it was only in our temple we get musicians from Tamil Nadu to perform. This was vetoed by advocate N.K.Subramaniam (husband of Mahima). Like a typical lawyer he dictated a reply, I wrote it, then cut & pasted it on the page!
I must say that the early morning nadaswaram reminded me of traditional Tam-Bram marriage!!
Padmasri Mattanoor was in charge of the കാഴ്ച ശീവേലി മേളം. It was amazing!
After recording the melam at all the nadas, I was wondering what to do next. Then Mahesh called and asked me if I wanted to interview Padmasri Mattanoor Shankarankutty Marar. I could not believe my ears.
I decided to go in and touch his feet. When I asked him if he could spare 2 minutes to talk to our viewers; he readily agreed. But when he asked me what I wanted to know, I told him I was tongue-tied. Something that does not happen often to me. I was in too much awe of a Padma award winner!! He kindly asked me to sit and when I refused pulled up a chair and insisted. When you see/ hear the interview you will hear the awe in my voice. Padmasri Mattanoor Marar spoke in chaste malayalam for nearly 3 minutes and the video till today has had 11,000 + views!
I went to the Annakshetra and saw the President of the Kshema Samithy there and requested him to talk about aarattu day sadya. There were 2 payasams - Paal ada and Parippu payasam.
My daughter and husband joined me for lunch in the large hall and food was excellent!
Evening: As it was the last day of utsavam, the കോടി ഇറക്കം or lowering of the flag was to be done. A sad day as that meant all festivities were winding down. I got a good spot and held my ground.
Neelakandan mama's daughter saw me and said, "Anu, I was searching to see where you were standing. Whatever you record, would be what my dad at home would see!" :D
After the flag comes down, Lord Siva climbs atop the elephant and goes around the temple. During the second round, he bids adieu to his beloved. The elephant does an on the spot round and while recording this, I was requested to move as three elephants occupy a lot of space. That was when (advocate) N.K.Subramaniam came to help me. He told, "Do you want to go there? In front of the elephant? I will take you. Come with me."
Poor man did not realise that I was doing "live" and everybody could hear/see him. The next day he was ready to strangle me!! "മാനം പോയി", his words. :D
And when the elephant was doing it's circle, Janardhanan sir told me what was going on and I made him repeat the answer thrice, each time with increasing volume for the sake of the viewers. He obliged!
Watch all this towards the end of this video. :D
After this on-the-spot round, HE goes for ആറാട്ട് / ritual bath. If it had happened in a river, all the people would have had a dip with HIM down river. But this was at the temple pond and no one was granted entry. I had got an amazing place to view the aarattu thanks to Mahesh. But some thing stopped me from doing 'Live' the serene religious function.
I had wanted to record the Police Guard of honour and there was a huge crowd in front of Hanuman temple; the venue of this. I knew this would happen and had asked some people for help. When I called out to Renjith through the crowd, he said the function had not started. Adhikayan chettan asked me to walk in through the crowds to the other side of the rope.
As soon as this bath was over, the committee members got some turmeric and asked a woman standing on the other side of the rope to pass it among the crowds. If you have seen videos of pirahnas attacking it's prey, you would have found what happened to the prasadam quite similar.
I was away from the crowd, but the men around me were so tall and I got their backs while going live recording the police salute. Thankfully, Vishal had taken a better video of the police's 'Guard of honour' for Ernakulathappan.
My husband had asked me to interview a particular type of person when I had started interviewing people. And he was very specific. Find a woman, who is old. She must have wrinkles, she must look frail and she must look like she needs all the help in the world. I had been looking around for such a woman for somedays and I thought I found one woman who fulfilled those criterion early in the evening. I interviewed her, but that woman suffered from severe attitude problems. Her answers were curt and it was as if she did not want to be interviewed. Why bother such a person.
After the aarattu, I found another person who fulfilled his requirements. Her voice was so low, I was forced to repeat her answers.
It was getting late and we were getting hungry. Vishal and Mahesh joined us for dinner at oottupura.
We met so many relatives - mamas, mamis, cousins.
And post dinner, there was an atmosphere of brotherhood which cannot be described. As I had mentioned earlier, there are many people who frequent the temple everyday at the same time as us, but we never interact with them. This night was different. All were talking to everyone else. My husband who is a very silent man; was extremely talkative!!
Mahesh told us that the houses of all the judges would be beautifully decorated and it is a sight to be seen. So we started walking around and taking pictures.
Mahesh and Vishal were trying to entice my husband, daughter and I to stay back till 4.30 am by saying that in each house/establishment you will get - squash, biscuit, കട്ടൻ ചായ് , കട്ടൻ കാപ്പി, പരിപ്പ് വട.
But we told them that we would leave after taking the pictures.
Judge Ubaid's residence, Justice Ramachandran Nair's residence, TDM hall, many residences and establishments were vying with each other to welcome the Lord.
We wound our way slowly back to the temple..
And guess what God did? Almost as if HE had been waiting for me, he started off for para when I reached near HIM! Like a carrot dangled in front of a donkey....
Now I had to cover the Para in front of Murugan temple....
Obviously I could not miss the para in front of the Ernakulam Grama Jana samooham.
Two mamis told me happily that their daughters watch every function Live on FB and this just made me want to cover more places!! And while I was 'live' one woman asked me from across the oceans to refocus on the para...probably her father/mother were doing para.
Anyway, when Aparna Ramakrishnan wrote, "Thanks for streaming the feed. Felt like I was there with my parents."; the feeling was indeed good.
Of course Haridas Eledath said, "Pls show elephants"; but Krishnan Rakesh cut him off with a photo of 3 elephants!! :D
While I was recording this Para, my uncle - Ravi mama; decided to take my video!
When we wanted to proceed home after these 2 paras, our way was blocked by the elephants. So I took a clip of Samy's para, Oottupura Para and Ratna Vilas Para.
Oil drippings from the big Vilakku held in front of the Lord landed on my daughter's arm. It burnt her arm a bit and I went into some random person's house and requested for water. They gave me water, ice pack and burnol. My daughter was not pleased. She wanted it to become a scar which she could show off in the future and I had prevented this from happening.
Then Mahesh told, wait till Judge Ubaid's para. That sounded interesting. After covering these 3 places, the para moves to TD road behind Maharaja's college. Our legs were paining; especially the feet. Mahesh found me a chair to sit.
And suddenly everyone started running. It sounds hilarious now, but one elephant sneezed and one person ran. Other's just ran behind him without enquiring why. When that boy who ran first came back, he was treated to some good humoured beating!!
Judge Ubaid's para was captured. So why not Chief Justice Antony Dominic's para? They were not aware that the para has to overflow. When the para got filled, they stopped tipping the basket and proceeded cautiously.
There were many houses on the way before reaching the collector's house.
And we decided to have കട്ടൻ from the roadside shop. What roaring business he was doing. The black tea / coffee costs ₹8 per glass and the shop keeper took ₹10 from Harish and Mahesh got wild. He went and got back ₹6 from the shop keeper.
After the Para at Collector's house, I was standing simply and Mahesh decided I must take an interview of the Collector. And I went inside the bungalow and asked if the collector would humour me. Then I got worried as he looked very tired. His explanation,"It's 2 am. Anyone would be tired."
And then the Collector and Chief Magistrate of Cochin spoke for 20 seconds in -...... Malayalam? No. Attempted Malayalam with Tamil ചൊവ. Kudos. Malayalam is a tough language. He is such a young boy. How can he be holding such a high post?
It seems it is only because of him the വെടിക്കെട്ടു / fireworks was approved. The Fire and Rescue had given the negative even though the local bodies had approved because of the petrol pump near BTH hotel. Collector is said to have said that the വെടിക്കെട്ടു had been going on for years before the pump came there and thus....he became many people's hero!
We did not pursue the elephants to TDM hall where പരിപ്പ് വട was being served. Our legs were too tired.
Durbar Hall ground was filled with people in various stages of sleep. It was a sight to behold. Dilip Kumar DD wrote, "While watching this video Feels that I was there at dh ground."
This video had shown 2 elephants standing at DH ground. It was used by the elephant-lovers to showcase the plight of the gentle beasts. One of our viewers wrote in warning us about this.
The കമ്പക്കെട്ട് or the firework tent(?) was ready.
I decided to interview some youngsters. Since morning it had been on my mind that I must interview some people of the younger generation which would showcase their want to join in the utsavam and also to ease my mind from what Mr. Ramesh had said in the morning (yesterday; as it was 3 am the next day!).
The 4 young men I went to were very much awake and they said,"Oh! ചേച്ചി ആണോ Live ഇടുന്നെ. ഞങ്ങൾ കാണാറുണ്ട്". They were all fashion designers from the movie field and suddenly I felt ill-dressed even though I was wearing a new churidhar!
It was nearly 3 am and my dear Preetha (the one who got married in July '17 and is now in USA according to FB) decides to ask if I will do Live telecast of Vedikettu. Come on, Preetha!!
Mr. Aneesh Rajendran who runs Ernakulathappan Siva Temple on FB, came to meet me. A tall charming chap.
The day before, I had been informed by Renjith about some people flying in from Dubai every year to attend the utsavam and had been given their contact number. When I spoke to them, I realised their roots were in Ernakulam and they were men. Men can fly in whenever /wherever they wish unlike women. I had interviewed Chandni Krishna - a girl who flies in every year for the utsavam from wherever. So I did not pursue the lead of the men.
It seems someone on Aneesh's FB page had asked them to interview these Dubai men. But since I was already doing interviews on my page they forwarded that number to me through Renjith! How was I to know?! I had used my discretion. After giving me this information, they left. I must contact these "Dubai Men" next year.
Ernakulathappan came into DH ground and Mattanoor also came to perform melam. I was the only female in a sea of men and I did not for a moment feel intimidated. Never during the whole festival did I feel afraid when I was standing surrounded by men.
My sincere appreciation to all the men who attended the Utsavam.
When the melam ended, there was a huge crowd to take a selfie with Mattanoor. I regret not having taken a picture with him. :(
The elephants were moved to safer havens and the elephant holding Bhagavan's tidambu was hidden behind the stage of Durbar hall ground. Then the vedikettu started. AMAZING! The last few embers landed on us. I am glad I screamed, "Shambo Mahadeva!" and not anything else!!
After this, Bhagavan had to go back.....It was an emotional moment. Sujith Sivaram wrote in,"Watching this scene brings tears 🙏🙏🙏". Marathakam Narayanan," It's such an emotional time! To see the end of ulsavam each year n waiting for the next one."
We reached home at 4.30 am and went to bed at 5 am!! I have never been awake for so long.
The next morning...I did not go to the temple; but in the evening the temple was empty! While it felt nice to know that Ernakulathappan was all ours....there was a slight tug in my heart.
P.S -
The page subscribers has increased from 6k to 7.2k.
Not once did I feel tired during the festival or afterwards. HE took very good care of HIS tool!!
As I told Anusha Murali, when she thanked me as her dad was unwell and could not attend the festival at the temple, and was thus glued to Ernakulathappan Temple FB page, "I am just a tool....a tool with 2 hands, 2 legs, good health, internet connection, good phone and some തൊലി കട്ടി."
The temple Committee President wrote in: “Ernakulam keshtra kshema samithi express our sincere thanks to admin for having done wonderful job to cover the entire festival and bringing all the Ernakulathappan devotees all over the world in a homely and festive mood. Ernakulathappan will shower blessings to all his devotees."
And when I replied,"On our behalf; we consider ourselves lucky to have done this seva to our Ernakulathappan", I meant it.
I just pray that Ernakulathappan continues to use me more.
Until next year.....
Shambo Mahadeva.
A young boy - Devanarayanan, did a Keyboard Kutchery. That child is in 7th and the way he plays the keyboard while looking around and having a non-chalant expression makes you wonder if he is actually belting out those tunes!! His grandfather was such a proud man and was proding him to play more and was quite depressed he did not play - Alaipayuthe.
Next was a Sangeetha Kutchery by Mr.Ajith Namboodiri. My neighbour's son had told me to tilt my camera from Portrait mode to Landscape mode when I was taking a video and I followed his (disastrous) advice. Did not repeat it again.
After barely covering the ottanthullal, I proceeded to socialise! Mr. Sreedutt Mohan usually pulls me up to the place I stand in front of Parvathy's nada in the evening. (Sukesh in the morning!!) Even though I had met him, I had not actually spoken to him. He had grown up in the vicinity of the temple and he informed me that his cousin from USA (Paru?) had called to say that she had seen the utsavam live over FB. His brother - Navneet Mohan had flown in from Mumbai to attend it too and it seems he too used to watch the melam on FB before he came down to Cochin for the long weekend.
Since I was feeling pretty bored, I ventured to DH ground. Rajasri Warrier, was to perform Bharatanatyam at 7.30 pm. I reached the venue to find loads of people enjoying themselves. Families were snacking on peanuts, kids were playing with balloons, there was chaat for sale.....I saw Damodaran Sir running around.
Later Nikhil Sukumaran informed me through the Page, that the temple committee was supposed to arrange carpet for the danseuse to perform on, but it never came.
Another person informed me that she cut short her performance and danced for 1 hour....only because of her respect for Damodaran Sir.
I knew that Bhagavan would go for പറ on Layam Road and Thottekkat Road. I contacted (another) Nikhil - Nikhil Krishna; whose home is opposite Kalyan Silks. He told me his uncle and aunt currently reside there and he lives somewhere else. I told him to inform them that I would be coming over to meet them. As the dance programme did not start I walked back, took my chappals and made my way to Nikhil's aunt's house.
Mrs. Jaya Vaidyanathan asked me to wait at her home till the പറ comes...whole 3 hours later. I told her I would go home, have dinner and come back. I gave her my number and asked her to call me if she felt the para was nearing their home.
On my way Mahesh joined me. He told me to take a look at Kalyan Silk's para decorations. It was amazing! There was so many vilakku, a huge idol of Siva and many paras filled with vegetables. There were 4 ladies drawing kolam.
Just as I reached home, I got a call from Mrs. Jaya saying the elephant had been spotted. I rushed back to find that Kalyan silks had engaged their own melam and elephant!!
After the false alarm, my husband (express driver) drove me back home, I had dinner, took a bath and reached Kalyan Silks with family by around 10.45 pm.
I had known there was Utsava Bali that afternoon. But since most of the vedic rituals were inside the temple, I did not cover it. Mahesh told me that there had been Utsava Bali sheegra paradakshinam also that afternoon. People run around the temple thrice and that is why it is called ശീഗ്ര പ്രദക്ഷിണം (sheegra pradakshinam). I was not aware of this, but Mahesh had a friend, Mr.Vishal Menon who would send me a video clip. And I met Vishal at Kalyan silks. He said that he had thought I would be young....I said I was young, but not young enough for him to flirt!!
While waiting at Kalyan Silks, the elephant passed by and I started going 'live' only to realise that para would first be finished in 2 houses on T D Road before coming to Thottekkat Road. I went to ask Ramakrishnan sir what was happening. The Dewasom Officer teased me , "വേറേ പണി ഒന്നും ഇല്ലേ?" but he explained to me what was happening.
So, I wrote on FB," 😬!! HE will come back! HE proceeded from Layam road to the road behind Maharaja’s college to visit 2 houses. The dewasom officer informed that HE will come to Thottekatt Road after those 2 houses!"
And I got a comment which wanted me to be more religious and not sound like a cricket commentary or edge of seat thriller. Come on, have a funny bone. I had made a fool of myself and owned up.
When the elephant did come to Kalyan Silks, there were some youngsters dancing away, who were too involved in the melam to move! After the Para in front of Kalyan Silks, there were fireworks.
Now a Ms.Shetty developed a problem with me calling Ernakulathappan - HE / HIM. It seems it sounded disrespectful like അവൻ / ഇവൻ for her. I said that in English language God can be called HE if both the alphabets are in caps!
January 28
Long day this Sunday!!
വെലിയ വിളക്ക് (Veliya vilakku)
Padmasri Mattanoor Shankarankutty Marar was doing the melam. Elephant holding tidambu was Kuttankulangara Arjunan.
In the below picture, you will see an Iyer Pvs. This person was another like Mana Mahadevan who would write in frequently saying, "Watching/enjoying from Ahmedabad". It is people like these who edge you on.
There was another person, Harish Eledath; an elephant lover!! He wanted me to keep showing the elephants!
Preetha was constantly in tears as she had gotten married recently and shifted to North Carolina and was missing the Utsavam badly.
Sujith Sivaram was in Singapore but missed Ernakulam.
Radha Subramaniam had kind words always, Haridas Menon always wrote 'namaste' just like Devi Menon.
Jaya Lakshmy was just happy to see her town's utsavam and Mohan Das was always saying "Super"! Remani was always worried if I would do 'live' the next programme!
I have not personally written/interacted with any of them, but these were my daily viewers with 'personalities' who always wrote when I went 'live'.
And there were so many people helping me with my mistakes. When some one points out that Thottekkat Lane അല്ലാ , but Thottekkat Road; another told me it was not melam, but Panchavadhyam being played at Diwan's Road! Ever grateful.
In between I got a good photographer friend - Manoj Gopalakrishnan. He would send me good images he took through the day and I could post those awesome pictures on the page. Cannot thank him enough for sharing them. I have seen him, but do not know him yet. God finds people like that for helping you out, I suppose.
After the melam, I was recording some ചിടുങ്ങാച്ചിs singing some songs....
and went to see the പ്രസാദ ഊട്ടു (temporary annakshetra / dining area). The queue was extremely long and I had no plans of having food there. I did not want to flaunt my pass and irk the people in the queue. Thankfully, the President saw me and invited me inside.
The arrangements were huge!
And for the first time I was welcomed by the committee! President sir said,"Whole World കാണും...Live ആണ് live".
They got hold of important people and asked me to get their views. Thus, I recorded the interview of the Ward member and CDB member.
Krishnamani anna, wanted me to take his video too and I happily obliged!! But Krishnamani anna completely degressed from his topic and forgot what he had to say. If you look carefully, you will see him raising his eyebrows (38 seconds) as I was drawing a 'dosa' on air to remind him to talk about Pai dosa.
The people there started calling me 'media' and I corrected them. Then they said,"You are part of social media, right?" But that is not really media!
After these interviews, I went back to the temple and got to see Bhagavan...
I came back home and when I tried to take rest, my mind would not quieten. Pakal pooram had started on Diwan's road. My husband and I went there in an auto.
I wanted to see a Para being done from inside a house and thus went in search of familiar faces who would introduce me to some house owner. I can say with confidence that everyone looks at me with much curiosity. And everyone is ready to help if you ask. Mr. Ramakrishnan (father of Aparna) introduced me to Mr. Gopinath and his wife and they allowed me to enter their compound. Thus, I got a view of the para from Gopinath sir's residence. It's true I could have recorded the para from outside, but this way the viewers could see HIM better.
Panchavadyam had proceeded at a good pace before the para aka the tidambu holding elephant. So the para was not having enough ധo....
I went to record the panchavadyam and saw that there was a huge crowd standing around it. Sopanam singer Mr.Balakrishnan saw me and suggested that I climb the staircase which was near the percussion to get a good view. I was not sure they would let me climb their private staircase, but if you don't ask, you never know. The lady standing at the gate was my 'Vishnu Sahasranamam acquaintance' from Hanuman temple! She allowed me to climb the stairs and what a view I got of the panchavadhyam!
Lakshmy Subramaniam said,"I used to stay in Warriam road. I used to see this mela every year..Thanks for this."
Seeing me on top, meant many more photographers wanted the vantage point. But they came only after I left.
The volunteers were all young boys and they were dressed up in uniform. I had seen them 2 days before in black kurta; today it was blue.
When I reached DH ground, there were 12 elephants lined up. Three were coming in to make the total 15. I wanted to get a closer view and many people were sitting around. I asked one woman to give me a little space to step across and she was the rudest person I ever met. She tried to push me away and I nearly fell.
The umbrellas for കുട മാറ്റം were lined up and they were in so many colours.
A little while later, Ernakulathappan's silver umbrella വെള്ളി കുട came. It seems there is also a golden umbrella. I was very close to it, but did not see it.
I really wanted to stand inside the barricade; protected from the crowd which had filled up DH ground. I sought the help of the blue ജുബ്ബ volunteers and stood inside the barricade. Thankfully my pass helped.
Mr. Aravind V Nair had wanted to know the names of the elephants for the 'pakal pooram'. While I was waiting for the kuda mattom to start, I met Mr. Mahesh, an elephant loving Lawyer. When I asked him to help me name the elephants, he delegated that duty to his son (Vignesh) studying in 9th. His son stared at the elephants face and named them as we would do any human!!
പുതുപള്ളി കേശവൻ was holding the tidambu.
The കുട മാറ്റം started. While this was going on, people were invited to come inside the barricade and donate money (കണിക്യ) at the സ്വർണ്ണ കുട (golden umbrella). I was standing there filming the changing umbrellas and a policeman started getting angry.
"നിങ്ങൾ കാരണം ആണ് , എല്ലാവരും ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് ഫോട്ടോ എടുക്കുന്നേ."
"It is only because of you that the people are taking photos standing here."
As much as I tried to explain to him that I had got official permission to be there, he would not agree! There is no point in talking to people who will not listen. So, ignore. My head would not move from my screen after this.
While standing there I met Mr. Suresh, a രസികൻ character. He works for the Dewasom Board and is in charge of utsavams.
He would point out people and would mumble under his breath for me to hear.
"അയാൾ പൊങ്ങച്ചക്കാരനാ."
"അയാൾ ശെരിയല്ല."
"തല്ലിപ്പൊളി". :D
He started calling me 'മാമി'. I tried hard to dissuade him but he insisted. Sigh!
While the umbrella changing was going on, I got requests from many viewers which I tried to comply to. Of course, Haridas Eledath wanted me to show ONLY elephant. "Pls show full coverage" and "Once more full coverage"; were his constant refrains.
I loved the way people from Kuwait, Singapore and '9500 kms away' started discussing the elephants! I felt a sense of pride; like a mother whose children are getting together?! :D
Then the viewers wanted to see the melam. But I could not budge.
So they came up with suggestions!!
And when I did turn the camera, I had no idea what I was showing them....but they were kind enough to write in....
Suddenly at 8.30 pm, the melam stopped! And we did not know why. I did not realise this, but the viewers did. Aswin walked in and even he did not know why. But luckily one viewer answered the query.
While I had been covering the kuda mattam, I really wanted to move around and take pictures of the elephants, but I got scolded nicely when I attempted to walk across. So I solicited the help of Mr. Suresh. "മാമി, വാ. ഞാൻ കൊണ്ട് പോകാം." And I took the photos of all the elephants!! Full time Sureshji was munching on 'കപ്പലണ്ടി' (groundnuts) he would either take from people in the crowd or on the നെല്ല് (whole rice grain) which was left over from the para!!
The vedikettu started soon after. After the vedikettu, I went back into the temple to catch the last of the pakal pooram in front of Ernakulathappan's nada.
Jayasree chechi had been a very sweet helpful lady all through. If I ask her some questions regarding the festival; she used to either answer it or help me find out the answer. She sits at her small make-shift counter writing receipts for 'annadhanam' etc. She had wanted me to photograph her, but God made me interview her instead. And the way her voice choked up when she talked about Ernakulathappan.....
There were many things happening that night / early morning, when Bhagavan would go for പള്ളി വേട്ട / hunting. I could not stay but Vishal sent me the videos at 3 am. First of the Vilakku pradhakshinam, then sopana sangeetham by Mr.Balakrishnan ( the one who suggested I climb the staircase at Diwan's road to get a good view of the panchavadyam) and last of the palli vetta.
I especially loved the way God makes HIS demands and the people agree to it by saying ആ ആ (yes, yes). The ആർപ്പൂ ഇർറോ bit made me feel bad for having missed seeing it!!
January 29
After the 'hunting expedition', Lord Siva is not allowed inside HIS sanctum, but must sleep outside. The cry of a calf would wake HIM up the next day. This happens usually past 7 am. I reached the temple at sharp 7 am and HE was already awake and was being given a bath inside. This is the only day when a turmeric bath (മഞ്ഞൾ അഭിഷേകം) is done to the Lord.
I wanted someone to explain these to the viewers; someone who comes daily to the temple and thus I interviewed Mr. Ramesh Kamath. During the course of the interview he voiced that youngsters are not taking part enthusiastically in the functions. I did not agree with him, but this started gnawing me. I had seen so many youngsters who were taking part with full fervor in all the activities. But that is his opinion.
Mr. Ramesh now calls me his sister and not 'maam' and insists I call him Ramesh as he says he is younger to me mentally!! He met me the same evening and told that 3 of his friends had seen the interview and called him in appreciation. And it seems he said ,"My new sister took it!!" :D
I was lucky to get some of the Turmeric which had been used to give HIM a bath.
In some time there was a nadaswara kutchery. Krishnamani anna made me go in front and take a clip of them performing. He said that it was only in our temple we get musicians from Tamil Nadu to perform. This was vetoed by advocate N.K.Subramaniam (husband of Mahima). Like a typical lawyer he dictated a reply, I wrote it, then cut & pasted it on the page!
I must say that the early morning nadaswaram reminded me of traditional Tam-Bram marriage!!
Padmasri Mattanoor was in charge of the കാഴ്ച ശീവേലി മേളം. It was amazing!
After recording the melam at all the nadas, I was wondering what to do next. Then Mahesh called and asked me if I wanted to interview Padmasri Mattanoor Shankarankutty Marar. I could not believe my ears.
I decided to go in and touch his feet. When I asked him if he could spare 2 minutes to talk to our viewers; he readily agreed. But when he asked me what I wanted to know, I told him I was tongue-tied. Something that does not happen often to me. I was in too much awe of a Padma award winner!! He kindly asked me to sit and when I refused pulled up a chair and insisted. When you see/ hear the interview you will hear the awe in my voice. Padmasri Mattanoor Marar spoke in chaste malayalam for nearly 3 minutes and the video till today has had 11,000 + views!
I went to the Annakshetra and saw the President of the Kshema Samithy there and requested him to talk about aarattu day sadya. There were 2 payasams - Paal ada and Parippu payasam.
My daughter and husband joined me for lunch in the large hall and food was excellent!
Evening: As it was the last day of utsavam, the കോടി ഇറക്കം or lowering of the flag was to be done. A sad day as that meant all festivities were winding down. I got a good spot and held my ground.
Neelakandan mama's daughter saw me and said, "Anu, I was searching to see where you were standing. Whatever you record, would be what my dad at home would see!" :D
After the flag comes down, Lord Siva climbs atop the elephant and goes around the temple. During the second round, he bids adieu to his beloved. The elephant does an on the spot round and while recording this, I was requested to move as three elephants occupy a lot of space. That was when (advocate) N.K.Subramaniam came to help me. He told, "Do you want to go there? In front of the elephant? I will take you. Come with me."
Poor man did not realise that I was doing "live" and everybody could hear/see him. The next day he was ready to strangle me!! "മാനം പോയി", his words. :D
And when the elephant was doing it's circle, Janardhanan sir told me what was going on and I made him repeat the answer thrice, each time with increasing volume for the sake of the viewers. He obliged!
Watch all this towards the end of this video. :D
A video grab of me trying to record HIM on top of the elephant, sent in by a friend. It was seen in another FB page.
After this on-the-spot round, HE goes for ആറാട്ട് / ritual bath. If it had happened in a river, all the people would have had a dip with HIM down river. But this was at the temple pond and no one was granted entry. I had got an amazing place to view the aarattu thanks to Mahesh. But some thing stopped me from doing 'Live' the serene religious function.
I had wanted to record the Police Guard of honour and there was a huge crowd in front of Hanuman temple; the venue of this. I knew this would happen and had asked some people for help. When I called out to Renjith through the crowd, he said the function had not started. Adhikayan chettan asked me to walk in through the crowds to the other side of the rope.
As soon as this bath was over, the committee members got some turmeric and asked a woman standing on the other side of the rope to pass it among the crowds. If you have seen videos of pirahnas attacking it's prey, you would have found what happened to the prasadam quite similar.
I was away from the crowd, but the men around me were so tall and I got their backs while going live recording the police salute. Thankfully, Vishal had taken a better video of the police's 'Guard of honour' for Ernakulathappan.
My husband had asked me to interview a particular type of person when I had started interviewing people. And he was very specific. Find a woman, who is old. She must have wrinkles, she must look frail and she must look like she needs all the help in the world. I had been looking around for such a woman for somedays and I thought I found one woman who fulfilled those criterion early in the evening. I interviewed her, but that woman suffered from severe attitude problems. Her answers were curt and it was as if she did not want to be interviewed. Why bother such a person.
After the aarattu, I found another person who fulfilled his requirements. Her voice was so low, I was forced to repeat her answers.
It was getting late and we were getting hungry. Vishal and Mahesh joined us for dinner at oottupura.
We met so many relatives - mamas, mamis, cousins.
And post dinner, there was an atmosphere of brotherhood which cannot be described. As I had mentioned earlier, there are many people who frequent the temple everyday at the same time as us, but we never interact with them. This night was different. All were talking to everyone else. My husband who is a very silent man; was extremely talkative!!
Mahesh told us that the houses of all the judges would be beautifully decorated and it is a sight to be seen. So we started walking around and taking pictures.
Mahesh and Vishal were trying to entice my husband, daughter and I to stay back till 4.30 am by saying that in each house/establishment you will get - squash, biscuit, കട്ടൻ ചായ് , കട്ടൻ കാപ്പി, പരിപ്പ് വട.
But we told them that we would leave after taking the pictures.
Judge Ubaid's residence, Justice Ramachandran Nair's residence, TDM hall, many residences and establishments were vying with each other to welcome the Lord.
We wound our way slowly back to the temple..
And guess what God did? Almost as if HE had been waiting for me, he started off for para when I reached near HIM! Like a carrot dangled in front of a donkey....
Now I had to cover the Para in front of Murugan temple....
Obviously I could not miss the para in front of the Ernakulam Grama Jana samooham.
Two mamis told me happily that their daughters watch every function Live on FB and this just made me want to cover more places!! And while I was 'live' one woman asked me from across the oceans to refocus on the para...probably her father/mother were doing para.
Anyway, when Aparna Ramakrishnan wrote, "Thanks for streaming the feed. Felt like I was there with my parents."; the feeling was indeed good.
Of course Haridas Eledath said, "Pls show elephants"; but Krishnan Rakesh cut him off with a photo of 3 elephants!! :D
While I was recording this Para, my uncle - Ravi mama; decided to take my video!
When we wanted to proceed home after these 2 paras, our way was blocked by the elephants. So I took a clip of Samy's para, Oottupura Para and Ratna Vilas Para.
Oil drippings from the big Vilakku held in front of the Lord landed on my daughter's arm. It burnt her arm a bit and I went into some random person's house and requested for water. They gave me water, ice pack and burnol. My daughter was not pleased. She wanted it to become a scar which she could show off in the future and I had prevented this from happening.
Then Mahesh told, wait till Judge Ubaid's para. That sounded interesting. After covering these 3 places, the para moves to TD road behind Maharaja's college. Our legs were paining; especially the feet. Mahesh found me a chair to sit.
And suddenly everyone started running. It sounds hilarious now, but one elephant sneezed and one person ran. Other's just ran behind him without enquiring why. When that boy who ran first came back, he was treated to some good humoured beating!!
Judge Ubaid's para was captured. So why not Chief Justice Antony Dominic's para? They were not aware that the para has to overflow. When the para got filled, they stopped tipping the basket and proceeded cautiously.
There were many houses on the way before reaching the collector's house.
And we decided to have കട്ടൻ from the roadside shop. What roaring business he was doing. The black tea / coffee costs ₹8 per glass and the shop keeper took ₹10 from Harish and Mahesh got wild. He went and got back ₹6 from the shop keeper.
After the Para at Collector's house, I was standing simply and Mahesh decided I must take an interview of the Collector. And I went inside the bungalow and asked if the collector would humour me. Then I got worried as he looked very tired. His explanation,"It's 2 am. Anyone would be tired."
And then the Collector and Chief Magistrate of Cochin spoke for 20 seconds in -...... Malayalam? No. Attempted Malayalam with Tamil ചൊവ. Kudos. Malayalam is a tough language. He is such a young boy. How can he be holding such a high post?
It seems it is only because of him the വെടിക്കെട്ടു / fireworks was approved. The Fire and Rescue had given the negative even though the local bodies had approved because of the petrol pump near BTH hotel. Collector is said to have said that the വെടിക്കെട്ടു had been going on for years before the pump came there and thus....he became many people's hero!
We did not pursue the elephants to TDM hall where പരിപ്പ് വട was being served. Our legs were too tired.
Durbar Hall ground was filled with people in various stages of sleep. It was a sight to behold. Dilip Kumar DD wrote, "While watching this video Feels that I was there at dh ground."
The കമ്പക്കെട്ട് or the firework tent(?) was ready.
I decided to interview some youngsters. Since morning it had been on my mind that I must interview some people of the younger generation which would showcase their want to join in the utsavam and also to ease my mind from what Mr. Ramesh had said in the morning (yesterday; as it was 3 am the next day!).
The 4 young men I went to were very much awake and they said,"Oh! ചേച്ചി ആണോ Live ഇടുന്നെ. ഞങ്ങൾ കാണാറുണ്ട്". They were all fashion designers from the movie field and suddenly I felt ill-dressed even though I was wearing a new churidhar!
It was nearly 3 am and my dear Preetha (the one who got married in July '17 and is now in USA according to FB) decides to ask if I will do Live telecast of Vedikettu. Come on, Preetha!!
The day before, I had been informed by Renjith about some people flying in from Dubai every year to attend the utsavam and had been given their contact number. When I spoke to them, I realised their roots were in Ernakulam and they were men. Men can fly in whenever /wherever they wish unlike women. I had interviewed Chandni Krishna - a girl who flies in every year for the utsavam from wherever. So I did not pursue the lead of the men.
It seems someone on Aneesh's FB page had asked them to interview these Dubai men. But since I was already doing interviews on my page they forwarded that number to me through Renjith! How was I to know?! I had used my discretion. After giving me this information, they left. I must contact these "Dubai Men" next year.
Ernakulathappan came into DH ground and Mattanoor also came to perform melam. I was the only female in a sea of men and I did not for a moment feel intimidated. Never during the whole festival did I feel afraid when I was standing surrounded by men.
My sincere appreciation to all the men who attended the Utsavam.
When the melam ended, there was a huge crowd to take a selfie with Mattanoor. I regret not having taken a picture with him. :(
The elephants were moved to safer havens and the elephant holding Bhagavan's tidambu was hidden behind the stage of Durbar hall ground. Then the vedikettu started. AMAZING! The last few embers landed on us. I am glad I screamed, "Shambo Mahadeva!" and not anything else!!
Photo Courtesy: Manoj Gopalakrishnan
We reached home at 4.30 am and went to bed at 5 am!! I have never been awake for so long.
The next morning...I did not go to the temple; but in the evening the temple was empty! While it felt nice to know that Ernakulathappan was all ours....there was a slight tug in my heart.
P.S -
The page subscribers has increased from 6k to 7.2k.
Not once did I feel tired during the festival or afterwards. HE took very good care of HIS tool!!
As I told Anusha Murali, when she thanked me as her dad was unwell and could not attend the festival at the temple, and was thus glued to Ernakulathappan Temple FB page, "I am just a tool....a tool with 2 hands, 2 legs, good health, internet connection, good phone and some തൊലി കട്ടി."
The temple Committee President wrote in: “Ernakulam keshtra kshema samithi express our sincere thanks to admin for having done wonderful job to cover the entire festival and bringing all the Ernakulathappan devotees all over the world in a homely and festive mood. Ernakulathappan will shower blessings to all his devotees."
And when I replied,"On our behalf; we consider ourselves lucky to have done this seva to our Ernakulathappan", I meant it.
I just pray that Ernakulathappan continues to use me more.
Until next year.....
Shambo Mahadeva.
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