Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350940200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Magic of seven to be celebrated

Staff Reporter

‘Sapthaprakara Pradakshina festival’ falls once in seven years

— Photo: R. Ashok

Devotional: M. Kavitha, Executive Officer, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, releasing ‘Sapthaprahara Ganamrutham’ compact disc.

TIRUCHI: Srirangam is associated with a series of festivals. The ‘Sapthaprakara Pradakshina festival’ is one among those which is celebrated once in seven years. It is a magic of seven all through.

Falling once in seven years, the festival signifies going around the seven prakarams around Sri Ranganathar for seven days. The festival, sponsored by “Aravamutha Iyengar Pankajavalli Ammal Memorial Trust,” Srirangam, is organised by a team of devotees. The festival is being organised for the fourth consecutive seventh year this time.

“We go around the prakarams-Adayavalaijan; Chithra Street; Uthira Street; besides the four inner prakarams of the temple,” says A. Raman and Mythili Jaganathan, both organisers of the festival. Till last time, it was performing the ‘pradakshinam’ and a music concert in the evening for the seven days.

To add more attraction, the organisers have taken special efforts for releasing a Compact Disc on seven songs glorifying Lord Ranganatha and Sri Ranganayaki Thaayar. The songs were composed by Dr. Raman with music support by Mrs. Mythili Jaganathan. The songs were sung by the students of Mrs. Mythili Jaganathan and are in various ragas including ‘Ragamalika’, ‘Charukesi’, ‘Dharmavathi’ and ‘Kamas’.

The Executive Officer of the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, M. Kavitha, appreciated the efforts taken by the devotees and the trust in releasing the Compact Disc, which would go a long way in propagating the importance of devotion among the masses.

Shylaja, a journalist, explained the impact of the festival being performed in the Tamil month of Margazhi on the welfare of devotees. Details can be had by dialling 0431-2433840.