Latest news with #Thiruppugazh
The Star
21-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Two schools left to run without headmasters
TWO Tamil schools in Hulu Selangor have not had their headmasters replaced for some time, Malaysia Nanban reported. SJK(T) Ladang Kalumpang's headmistress retired and was sent off with a small celebration in March. However, the parents did not expect to be still waiting for a replacement nearly four months later, the daily reported. Meanwhile, SJK(T) Ladang Kerling's headmaster was transferred three weeks ago but the position still remains empty. Both schools' assistant headmasters were left in charge but they are not authorised to make any decisions and have to rely on the district education office. > Twenty-two trained Carnatic students gathered for a record setting seven-hour concert on the steps of the Batu Caves Temple, Malaysia Nanban reported. The event was organised by Ipoh-based Swaralaya Sangeetha Kalalayam. They sang 272 verses from the 14th century Tamil hymns known as Thiruppugazh, one for each of the 272 steps of the iconic temple. The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Arohara echoes as Thirupparankundram unites thousands in worship
Madurai: Thousands of devotees witnessed the consecration (Kumbabishekam) of the Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Temple at Thirupparankundram, one of the six abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan, on Monday morning. The rituals began at 5 am, with sacred kalasams taken in procession from the yagasalai to the temple vimanas. By 5.31 am, priests poured sanctified water on nine golden kalasams — seven on the 125-ft Rajagopuram, and one each on the Vallabha Ganapathi and Govardhanambigai Ambal vimanas — marking the formal culmination of the consecration. Theertham was then sprayed on devotees using drones and mounted sprayers. More than 200 Shivaacharyars conducted the rituals, which commenced on July 10 and continued for five days. A total of 75 yaga kundams were set up at the Valli Devasena Mandapam, with Vedic chants and Tamil hymns, including Thevaram, Thiruppugazh, and Kandar Anuboothi, recited by over 85 odhuvars, including women, during the concluding rituals on Sunday. Twenty-seven LED screens were placed around the temple for live telecast. Drinking water booths, ambulances, fire service vehicles, and medical camps were stationed in the vicinity for the devotees. The Rajagopuram was refurbished at a cost of ₹70 lakh funded by donors, while the total renovation cost was estimated at ₹2.44 crore. As part of the works, seven new golden kalasams were installed on the Rajagopuram and one each on the Ambal and Vinayakar sannidhis. The towers were painted in panchavarnam (five traditional colours) and treated with kalkam, a mixture of 55 herbal ingredients. On Sunday night, the idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar from the Meenakshi Amman Temple were brought in procession and received at the 16-pillar mandapam in Thirupparankundram early Monday. Meenakshi Temple was closed for darshan on Monday as the presiding deities were away. Shops and businesses surrounding the temple marked the occasion with electric decorations. A new LED-lit 'Vel' (spear) was installed atop the gopuram, and laser lighting illuminated the temple towers during the celebrations. The event was held amid tight security and elaborate arrangements. Around 3,000 police personnel were deployed under the supervision of City Police Commissioner J Loganathan. Traffic diversions were enforced across Thirupparankundram Taluk to manage the crowd. Speaking to reporters, HR&CE minister P K Sekar Babu said the consecration was conducted in line with Tamil Agamic traditions and reflected the Dravidian model's commitment to temple revival and heritage preservation. "Under the leadership of chief minister M K Stalin, kumbabishekam has been performed at 3,347 temples across Tamil Nadu so far, including 124 Murugan temples since this government took office," he said. He urged devotees to be patient and make use of the ongoing 48-day mandala abhishekam period for darshan. "The spiritual merit extends far beyond today's event. We ask devotees to avoid unnecessary rush and plan visits accordingly," he said. He also emphasized that the event transcended politics and religion, sending a message of unity. "Thirupparankundram is a model of harmony where people of all castes and faiths coexist peacefully," he added. Commercial taxes minister P Moorthy, Thirupparankundram MLA Rajan Chellappa, state BJP president Nainar Nagenthiran, Madurai collector K J Praveen Kumar, and Madurai Corporation commissioner Chithra Vijayan also participated. MSID:: 122442068 413 |
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Watch: Umayalpuram explains how to play for the stalwarts of Carnatic music
Mridangam maestro Umayalpuram Sivaraman shared his experiences of accompanying great musicians — each possessing exceptional mastery in their respective fields — and said that it became easier for him after undergoing rigorous training. He likened the experience to visiting a sweet stall. 'You will be bewildered about what to buy,' he said during a conversation with CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby at The Hindu office. 'You should have the reflexes to play immediately. Whatever is in your brain should come out through the mridangam. Through hard work, you reach the top and maintain your place by constantly improving. Otherwise, others will overtake you,' he said. Recalling his experience with Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, he said the veteran often sang in madhyama kalam, and sometimes the mridangam player had to establish the tempo before he began the kriti. 'I wanted to accompany him in one desadi thalam, but for a long time, we didn't get the opportunity. Then one day, he sang it, and I said, 'Today I am very happy, mama.' He replied, 'Only today do I have the confidence that you will play well,'' Mr. Sivaraman recalled with a smile. Mr. Sivaraman said one could never deviate from kaala pramanam (sense of timing) while playing for Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. 'He would say, 'Ennathu? Odapidathe. No running. Nothing.' And you had to play with abandon because his voice was so powerful,' he said. In one programme, to showcase Mr. Sivaraman's scholarship, Chembai gave him five thani avarthanams in a single concert. 'After that, he asked me to drink Horlicks from a flask. He said, 'I will not stop singing, and you should not stop playing.' At the end of the programme, he said, 'I have earned name and fame. I also got money. You should earn all that too.' Then he sang the Mangalam,' Mr. Sivaraman reminisced. Playing for Madurai Mani Iyer was a different experience. The mridangam player could never deviate from shruti. 'The great T.R. Mahalingam said of Madurai Mani Iyer: 'If you want to worship Swara Devatha, here is Mani Iyer's music.' When Madurai Mani aligns with the tambura, there is no dichotomy. You have to tune the mridangam accordingly. If it's not in tune, he will look at you,' Mr. Sivaraman said. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer was known for sarva laghu singing. 'It is like the running of a horse. You won't have time to tune,' he said. G.N. Balasubramanian was famous for brigha-laden music, and Sivaraman had to adapt his playing accordingly. 'The Alathur Brothers were pallavi experts. When you ask them, they would say, 'There's nothing you don't know.' But then they would sing something I wasn't familiar with. While singing Thiruppugazh, if you didn't play aruti, they would ask why hadn't I played it,' he said. He added that while accompanying Musiri Subramania Iyer, he had to play the niraval properly and also provide the aruti. 'If you accompanied flautist T.R. Mahalingam, you would never know what he was going to play. He might play a misra gathi adi tala varnam. You had to be ready,' he said, and even demonstrated by singing Viribhoni Varnam. With Viswanatha Iyer, Sivaraman said he had to embellish his playing because Viswanatha Iyer himself knew mridangam well. 'These are all the ways I learned so many things. Everyone is great,' he said. Mr. Sivaraman also shared his experience of playing Simhanandana Thalam with 128 beats for Mudikondan Venkatarama Iyer at the Music Academy. 'He had a tuft. He would keep the thalam correctly. Sometimes, his tuft would come undone — he would stop to tie it back, but he never missed the thalam. You also had to play thani avarthanam in that thalam. So when you go through all these drills, it becomes easy. You really have to pass through all this,' he said. Asked whether playing for T.N. Seshagopalan was tough, Mr. Sivaraman said he was a very great musician in all aspects — composition, niraval, swaram, pallavi, and Thiruppugazh. 'When you play for Seshagopalan, he will also put you to the test. The thing is, you have to really prove your worth and create something great in the concert so that he will appreciate it,' he said. Reporting: B. Kolappan Video: Johan Sathyadas, Thamodharan B, Shiva Raj Editing: Shiva Raj
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. government opposes Hindu Munnani's Lord Murugan conference in Madurai; cites Bengaluru stampede
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday (June 9, 2025) opposed the Hindu Munnani's plea for extended pre-event celebrations ahead of the Murugan devotee conference in Madurai, informing the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that it apprehended potential law and order issues and 'a situation like the recent stampede in Bengaluru'. Hence, it was willing to grant permission for only three days to the outfit for installing temporary miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan at the 'Muruga Bakthargalin Aanmeega Maanadu'. The Hindu Munnani, represented by State secretary S. Muthukumar, had filed a petition before the High Court seeking a direction to the police to grant permission for installing miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan at Amma Thidal near the Vandiyur toll gate and conducting pujas. The petitioner said the Hindu Munnani had decided to arrange a gathering of devotees of Lord Murugan on June 22. The miniatures of 'Arupadai Veedugal' were planned to be installed at the venue from June 10 to June 22. Pujas would be performed and prasadam would be distributed to the devotees, he said, adding that the Sthalapuranam of the six abodes would be displayed and devotees would chant Kanda Shashti Kavacham and Thiruppugazh. Spiritual and cultural programmes would be held at the venue, which is a private land, and the land owner had given his consent, he said. A representation was made to the Madurai City Police for permission to use sound amplifiers at the event. A representation was also made for arranging darshan of the miniatures from June 10 to June 22. The police rejected permission for using microphone sets and installing miniatures and temporary models, the petitioner said. He alleged that a police team went to the place where the miniatures were being made and threatened workers and volunteers not to proceed with the work. He sought a direction to the police to grant permission for installing the miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan at the venue and conducting the pujas. The government told the court that the Hindu Munnani had not responded to all the questions put forth by the police. The organisation, however, submitted that it had done so. Justice B. Pugalendhi directed the Hindu Munnani to furnish its response to the questions and the police to take a decision by June 12. The court permitted the petitioner to proceed with making the miniatures. However, no puja shall be conducted for now, the court said. It posted the matter for hearing on June 13.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC tells Madurai police to decide on granting nod for Lord Murugan meet
Madurai: Madras high court on Monday directed the Madurai city police to take a decision on the application submitted by Hindu Munnani, seeking permission to conduct the Lord Murugan devotees conference (Muruga Bakthargalin Aanmeega Maanadu) in Madurai by June 12. The conference is scheduled to be held on June 22. The court was hearing a petition filed by Hindu Munnani state secretary, S Muthukumar, seeking a direction to the police to grant permission to set up miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan and conduct pujas at the conference venue from June 10 to 22. Pursuant to the earlier order, the state, by referring to the recent Bengaluru stampede incident, submitted that it apprehended law and order issues. Therefore, the state submitted that police are willing to grant permission for three days to set up the miniatures at the venue. With regard to the application submitted seeking permission for the conference, the state submitted that the petitioner had not responded to certain queries put forth by the police. However, Muthukumar's counsel submitted that the petitioner had responded to all the queries and he would also respond to any further queries. Taking into account the submissions, justice B Pugalendhi directed the police to take a decision on the application seeking permission by June 12. The judge permitted the petitioner to continue with the work of setting up the miniatures, however, directed that no pujas shall be conducted, till a decision taken by the police with regard to granting permission. The hearing was adjourned to June 13. In his petition, Muthukumar had stated that Hindu Munnani has decided to arrange for a gathering of devotees of Lord Murugan in Amma Thidal near Pandikoil Ring Road in Madurai on June 22. He stated that the miniatures of the six abodes will be installed as a temporary structure within the conference premises in order to let the devotees get darshan of all six abodes of Lord Murugan in one place from June 10 to 22. They had also planned to perform pujas at the miniature abodes from 10am to 12pm and 5pm to 7pm and distribute prasadam to the devotees. The Sthalapuranam of the six abodes would also be displayed and explained to the devotees. On the day of the conference, devotees would be chanting Kanda Shashti Kavacham and Thiruppugazh. In addition, spiritual and cultural programmes reflecting the rich culture and heritage would also be held. A representation was made to Madurai city police for using sound amplifiers. However, police had rejected permission for sound amplifiers and miniature structures. Challenging the rejection order, the petitioner moved court.
