By Sau. Subiksha Raman
Namo Narayana!
Year after year, our NAMA Singapore goshti eagerly awaits witnessing the Andal Rangamannar Thirukkalyana Utsavam in all its splendour. This year, on the Sunday morning two days before the Thirukkalyanam, Andal too, adorned in royal blue silk with a garland of red and yellow roses and with Rangamannar standing majestically next to her, awaited all of us for the Pondugal event organised for the Rocker Andal goshti. The collective atmosphere created every year during these festivities is incredible, as though Srivilliputhur itself has come alive before us.
What made this year’s Pondugal especially unforgettable was the involvement of our little Andal utsavar. To start the event, she led our Andal goshti into the Thirumaligai – it was like Andal herself was walking in front of us as a guiding light.
After the nalangu was lovingly performed for Thayar and Perumal, the ritual was tenderly kept for our little Andal before being extended to all the young Andals in our goshti. It felt extremely meaningful and poignant, as it was as though Andal was no longer distant or symbolic, but one of us. She sat among us, participated with us, and allowed every young girl in our goshti to feel embraced in her grace and presence.
It was truly a memorable and blessed occasion, one that filled our hearts with gratitude and bhakti. In celebrating the Divyadhampati’s wedding, we felt woven into Andal’s eternal love for Rangamannar, carrying home a renewed sense of bhakti and togetherness of “koodiyirundhu kulirthal” as Andal herself put it.
Andal thiruvadigale sharanam.
Adiyen
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