National standard for signboards

2015 Madurai Meenakshi Chithirai Thiruvizha

2nd year running. This year, we brought from Malaysia the plastic gloves & aprons for the food handlers. We want to make this an annual contribution to the committee to ensure cleanliness. May Goddess Meenakshi bless us all.

What we want in Malaysia

Abandoned Temples - அரை வேக்காட்டு ஆலயம்

Salam gulamu! Been a while, been busy, been traveling & been seeing things around us.

I've written about temples (or rather shrines) which are sprouting around without proper approvals and religious sense.

In around KL, we can see few temples, which are properly approved, but stuck halfway during their construction due to lack of funds. Some of these are 'under construction' for years, even more than a decade! All because they wanted the biggest, the longest, the widest, the cekap-est design in the country. I wonder why they don't think with simple economical approach.

Scott Road KL, multiple temples developed at snails pace

Scott Road KL, semme intricate design, for people stuck in traffic jam kot?

Setapak, Air Panas (update: completed recently)

Another one at Setapak Air Panas, 200 meters away from the top temple!

Sentul, been left to rot for years!!

Instead of putting a plan for grand gempak gili gili, which feature 1008 columns, 10,008 intricate sculptures, which takes hundreds of thousands to make then maintain, why they don't build a wedding hall beneath to earn money, while constructing their temple above it? The good examples like:

Some temple committee members are so engrossed with the beauty of the unfinished temple, instead of actually thinking of abandoned temples, which becomes eyesore to everyone.

Have you seen any unfinished mosque, Chinese tokong or church left rotting for years? Temples are supposed to be most sacred places for us, but leaving them to rot due to our own poor planning is a disgrace. Ennapa? Ippadi panringelehpa!

2014 Madurai Meenakshi Chithirai Thiruvizha

The year 2014 is drawing to its end in couple of days. I have not been writing this blog for more than 10 months now. A change in department and portfolio have kept me very busy, thus the long absence.

2014 have been rather kind and exciting. For the year end sharing, I present to you our journey to the Madurai city for its annual Chithirai Thiruvizha that attracts hundreds of thousands from around the world.

Thiruvizha in Madurai has to be the biggest I've seen in my life. The Meenakshi Thirukalyanam at Madurai Meenakshi Temple is an awesome event that everyone should at least attend once in their lifetime. This is a major annual festival celebrated during the twelve days Chithirai Brahmotsavam Festival on the Tamil month of Chithirai (April – May).

This year, we are blessed to be able to join the massive annathanam that is served by the Madurai people, lead by our respected Mr. Vivekanandar, assisted by his son Mr. Harimanikanda and hundreds of volunteers.

The annathanam serves dinner for 10,000 devotees and followed by lunch for more than 60,000 people. Its a massive operation, funded, managed and executed by the people of Madurai for the devotees.

I will let the following pictures to tell the full story. Enjoy, and if possible try to join in once. We will definitely return.

Magnificent Madurai Meenakshi Temple

The agenda

I see roofs, I climbs!

Annathanam Venue

Explaining the event

Donations pouring in

The whole community comes together!

  

Part of the preparations:

  

  

Super cool bonda tata!

The actions seen here are actually performed, not just posing. It was back breaking for all

 

  

Police Akkas for our protection.

The crowd gathers.

 Briefing by Hari anna.

 The crowd gathers

 Serving 10,000 is not easy

He's not well, but he didn't miss the opportunity

 

The team

Madurai Simmakal Thata coolie padai!

Hijacking

Rich Thata!