Madurai - Part 3

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 4

The next day was a visit to Vayalur followed by Melakkal. The way the village was selected was funny. My grandpa had a huz in a village called Melur, I confused that village's name with this and kept telling we HAD to go ONLY to that village so that I can see my grandpa's huz/ hut. But once we reached I understood that I was wrong and it was a different village. 

Though there was nothing much to mention about the villages except the same old stories that the people were friendly and helpful, the Thiruvila in Solavanthan which we visited after the villages visit is worth mentioning.

As our work was over by 2 o clock in the noon we planned to visit the poomidhi thiruvila in Solavanthan. When we reached there was no one in that area. Just the coal was in the centre and wooden fence was made on all the 4 sides to it. We were said that girls were to sit at one side and boys the other. And I was he first in the row very close to the coal path. It didn't look like a path. It was like a lorry of hot coal just dumped in there. I was so shocked to even think that people would walk on it. But later around 15 - 20 people came and with big sticks and rods of iron took away all the bigger pieces of coal in that place and made the whole pathway smooth to make the walking easier. 

Later ambulance, fire department men and many other helpers came and stood on either side of the pathway. The god's statue was bought and was taken three rounds around the pathway. I saw the statue very close to me. Then the walk on the coal started. First the temple's priest walked (ran) on the pathway followed by 12 other priest like people (looked younger than the 1st one) then the normal people started walking.

There were around 1000 people waiting in the queue to walk on the coal path. Suddenly (around 5.30 PM) when the ceremony started, the whole area was completely packed up. It was suffocating to even stay there. When the ceremony started the ladies who were very quietly sitting till then stood up and a stampede (almost) occurred. The lady police with rods in their hand gave orders in high pitched voices and only then the crowd came under control and everyone sat down.

The ceremony was said to have lasted for more than 5 hours but we started back around 7PM. One of the most amusing thing was the narrator who said so many lies (that the program was telecasted in 100 channels, many actor actresses had come to see it etc) to keep the crowd captivated. But the sad part is nobody bothered to listen to his words. He was funny sometimes :)

I came to know that not everyone had the right to get in the coal pathway but one had to tie 'Kappu' and maintain purity for 5/7/10 days before the Thiruvila to perform this ritual. Many men ran with their kids on their shoulder. Many walked and the crowd cheered them and clapped for them. Almost every lady fainted once she crossed the pathway but as helpers were standing on the either side of the pathway, they used to lift the ladies the second they crossed.

It was a lifetime experience - One which can never be forgotten. And it was all real. Nobody used salt or cold water. It was said to be an offense. People walked bare foot right from the day they wore the kappu till the second they walked on the pathway. Many cried and the pain, tears lasted for few minutes. I could see many in the streets shopping with their kids after walking on the pathway. And it was also to be noted that many people from so many villages nearby came to participate in this ceremony. At one point even I felt that I could do it. That simple it looked and it was just because of the amount of guts and trust they had on God. 

When I asked an old man won’t it pain? He replied me "people are not walking it is the god who is carrying them through just as she does every time when we face troubles/ pain in our lives". It answered everything. I left the place learning a new lesson - Trust, confidence, patience and dedication can make even the impossible possible.