The lionized festival of Telegu Devangar Community People was celebrated, this morning with great religious fervour and gaiety.
The 'Kathil Pandaga', as they call in Telegu is regarded to be one of the iconic festivals of this community people who are known for their weaving skills. Though, a majority of the community has drifted away from weaving, the people of this community still revere this customary festivity which they claim to have been celebrating since ages. Among the several traditional festivities celebrated in the City like Koniamman Car Festival, Thai Pusam in Marudhamalai, this 'Kathil Pandaga' celebration has secured a notable place in the City's festival encyclopedia.
Dedicated to Goddess 'Sri Sowdeswari Amman', a large number of male devotees from this community dressed in dhotis wearing garlands pierced their arms and abdomen with the sacred knife or swords, as a mark of sacrifice to the Goddess.
Not just adults, even younger children (boys) were also made to participate in the ritual. Clad in small dhotis and adorned with garlands, the younger ones carried less-weighted swords which were decorated colorfully and purposefully kept blunt to ensure they do not injure themselves. Reciting the slogans, the younger ones though not aware of the ritual in complete, yet showed their braveness in handling the swords.
"It's mostly mandatory that every male from the family have to take part in this ritual in some part of his life. While a few take part every year, while some take part once as a mark of respect to the custom", an elderly person, Palanisamy from the ritual scene shared.
The slogans raised by the devotees revering Goddess Sowdamman and the festivity itself, indeed echoed all over the place. Even those people who do not belong to the community but have witnessed the festivity in the past would also remember the slogans raised by the devotees, These three slogans - 'Kathi Para dho Para' Theesko Thalli' and 'Veesko Thalli' are the ones they recite throughout the procession.
Ramesh, a resident of Sukrawarpet area commented that "Though we do not belong to this community, this festivity is very close to us as we have been witnessing this customary festivity since our younger days. My father and grand fathers' have indeed apprised me of this ritual in detail and how it' was conducted during yester years. We collect and store the Bannari Podi offered during this time, as it is said to have lot of medicinal properties and helps heal minor cuts in children and adults quickly".
This year the 'Kathi Para dho Para' celebrations were no different, with large crowds of devotees the procession started this morning at Sukrawarpet and passed through prominent locations of the city including Mettupalayam road, Town Hall, Sukrarpet, Saibaba Colony and will reach the Old Sowdeswari Amman Temple in Raja Street, Town Hall.
"This tradition is being followed by our community people since ages. Every male of our community will take part in this event 'Kathil Pandaga" to seek the blessing of the Goddess Sowdamman. Though every family has their own 'Kula deivam' deities to workshop. 'Sowdamman' is the Mother God for our community. Today our community people have gathered here as a family to celebrate this festivity".
"The auspicious 'Bannari Podi' (a special mixture of turmeric and other herbs) is used to heal the wounds. We do not seek any other medicines for curing the wounds" said an ardent devotee.
As such the Women do not participate in this ritual of piercing but do assist the Men by providing them water and applying Bannari Podi to their wounds and raise slogans throughout the procession hailing their community Goddess 'Sowdamman' who is the astral deity of all people belonging to weaving community.
