Over 100 people – men, women, teens and transexuals – took part in the annual thee chatti procession to mark the celebration of Aadi in Mylapore on August 10 evening.
It was raining hard even as participants gathered inside Sri Mundagakanni Amman Temple, Mylapore to take their place in the procession. Each person was handed the earthen pot and branches of neem and at the appointed time, lit camphor was dropped into the pot that contained small firewood pieces. The wood was afire and in minutes . . .
Some women had pierced their mouths, some their lower lip and some, their eyebrows – this was teir dedication to the goddess. The participants walked down the main road, turned into a crowded street, even as the chanting grew into a frenzy, and ended the walk at Sri Kolavizhi Amman Temple.
The participants left the partly-burnt chattis in a corner at this temple and offered prayers even as the hint of another spell of rain was felt.
Through the season of Aadi, Mylapore has witnessed many different events around its Amman temples and more are listed in the days to come.
- By Madhan Kumar
