COVID-19 breaks Boyar community’s tradition of pulling Tiruvannamalai temple car
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For many generations, the members are concerned in guaranteeing the protected working of the vehicles and so they do it as a ardour and never for cash
For the previous 25 ears, 48-year-old E.D. Vijay and over 1,000 members from the Boyar neighborhood have been concerned within the protected working of the ‘Pancha Ratham’ (temple car competition) throughout the Karthigai Deepam festivities right here. However, this yr he and others of his ilk have been disadvantaged of the chance because the district administration has cancelled the Tiruvannamalai car competition as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
The ‘Pancha Ratham’ is performed on the seventh day of the 10-day Karthigai Deepam festivities. Five vehicles, together with the ‘Maha Ratham’ (large car), is taken across the ‘mada’ streets working to 4 km. For many generations, the members of Boyar neighborhood, dwelling within the temple city, are concerned in guaranteeing the protected working of the vehicles. They do it as a ardour and never for cash. Though they get harm within the course of, they guarantee that the car doesn’t go astray and injure the general public or harm property within the route.
“First we place a square block of wood, weighing close to 50 kg, beneath the giant wheel of the temple car. Then we place on it a log which is 15 feet and weighing close to two tonnes, and 15 men stand on it. Using it as a fulcrum we propel the vehicle,” explains Mr. Vijay.
As the car ascends or descends a slope within the route, its pace is managed utilizing heavy iron chains. “In other temples, woven coir ropes are used to pull the car, but here we use iron chains. More than 100 people are used to lift it,” explains N Velmurugan, one other member of the neighborhood.
The ‘Maha Ratham’ is near 140 toes excessive and weighs 200 tonnes, claims Mr. Vijay. “Making it turn safely using the logs is a challenge and it is also vital to ensure that the car does not change direction and cause an accident. Every year one sustains a fracture while placing the logs,” provides Mr. Vijay.
It takes hours for the vehicles to finish the circumambulation of the ‘mada’ streets which have each steep and flat surfaces. “Days before the festival, we identify the obstacles in the path of the car and inform the local administration and temple management about it during a meeting. They remove it to ensure smooth running of the cars,” provides S. Jayashakti.
This is one competition the complete neighborhood appears to be like ahead to. “People from our community living in other States and even abroad come to Tiruvannamalai and take part in the event. The police give us security while we place the logs and an 108 ambulance also accompanies us,” he provides.
Since the car competition was not performed this yr, the complete neighborhood is gloomy. “We have requested the temple and local administration to at least clean the big car and maintain it,” provides Mr. Vijay.
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