RVS Annual Village Festival 2023 - 544

    2023 RVS ANNUAL VILLAGE 

                  FESTIVAL

With the present and past  political dispensations in power for almost half a century now ; The concept of a Village Agraharam and all that one associates with it has gradually seen a sea change ,  so much so that it is now  almost impossible to find an Agrahaaram in all its true sense .

RAVANASAMUDRAM , a small and tiny  village in the Tenkasi  District of Tamilnadu is still among the few Villages still left  which  retain many aspects of the Agrahaaram Concept .

This village on the banks of the Ramanadhi River and close to the Western Ghats is almost 40 Kilometers from Tirunelvei or Tenkasi on either side . The green paddy fields surrounding the village is always a treat to the eyes.

Give or take a few , this village of 150 odd houses in its Sannadhi  Street and Two Mada Streets are the abode of LORD  CHOKKANATHAR AND MEENAKSHI AMBAAL .

The Annual Temple Festival to consecrate these deities is held each year with the utmost devotion , attention to detail and fanfare in the TAMIZH Month of THAI each year .

This 10 day Festival attracts Natives of the Village  from all over India and the Globe who make it a point to offer their prayers on specified days of the festival .

Recitation of Sri Rudram with 11 Anuvagam is done with utmost devotion everyday . Abhishekam , Alangaaram , Prasadam and OOR ULAA of the deities in various Vaahanaas are a multiple everyday event .

 

The last time the Village Celebrated this Annual Festival in its full fervor was in the year 2020 . 

Covid and the attendant Pandemic left the Village Celebrating the event in a much toned down fashion in 2021 and was  a total non event in the year 2022 .

2023 saw a big change as the Covid fear is not at the same level  now and people have started moving about freely . This made it less of an issue  for  more  people  to visit their Native Village for the Annual Festival .

No cooking need to be done in any house of the village for the entire 10 days of the Festival  as Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner  is provided at the Mandapam of my good friend Cine Music Director Ramani Bharadwaj who is also a native of this place . The all  important aspect of the  Food being taken care , the residents of the village  keeping theirs hearts , doors and houses open for the visitors and making  them feel at home has gone  a long way in making this festival the success that it always is .


Our family's  earmarked   8 th day function was held yesterday with all the reverence and devotion  . Me and my Cousin's family from Trivandrum and other relatives from Bangalore and New Delhi who also had their share of the Eighth Day Festivities took part in the various events earmarked for the Day .

The highlight of the evening was also the scintillating Dance performance of the Melattur Dance Troupe that just left everyone in a daze .

Prayers at the Bench Court Pillayaar Kovil and the KOZHUKATTAI that went along with it was an added attraction this year  .

Hats off to the Village and to all its residents for making this a truly memorable event  .

Special Thanks to Ramani , Vitchu and Ramakrishnan for opening their hearts and doors and  for accommodating us and making us feel at home .

Certain pre occupations prevented me from attending the Temple Car or THER ULA early this morning , I am however attaching a few pictures which I recieved from Ramani and Doctor  Bali .