Thevar Jayanthi

Content advisory : This album contains a photo showing a person's cheeks pierced with spear.

Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar (1908-1963) is a revered figure among the Thevars, many of whom worship him as god. Muthuramalingam Thevar advocated Indian nationalism and was a religious person. His thoughts on spirituality has had a profound influence on his community members, the Thevars, and has earned him the name 'Deiva Thirumagan', a Tamil term meaning 'venerated son of God'.

After his death, Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar was buried in front of his house in his village Pasumpon and a memorial was constructed at the site. This place is known as Thevar Aalayam ('Thevar Temple' in Tamil).

Every year, the birthday of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar is celebrated in a grand manner at the temple housing his samadhi ('burial place' in Tamil / Sanskrit). Lakhs of Thevars from all over Tamil Nadu and outside the state converge at the village to pay homage to their leader and pray to him. This occasion is known as Thevar Jayanthi.

This blog contains 20 photos shot in Madurai, Pasumpon and Manamadurai.

Locations :
Madurai District, Tamil Nadu;
Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu;
Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

Photos shot in October 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

Workers erect scaffolding around the statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar in Madurai, in preparation for Thevar Jayanthi.

Thevar women performing vilakku pujai (lamp ceremony) at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

Thevar women dance in a street in Pasumpon.

Thevar boys dance merrily in Pasumpon.

The heavily-guarded samadhi of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar in Pasumpon. The idol of Muthuramalingam Thevar (right) has been covered with a gold armour for his birthday celebrations. The armour weighs 13 kilograms and is worth ₹4.5 crores.

A young Thevar man prays before a statue of Muthuramalingam Thevar in the house where he lived in Pasumpon. A replica of stamp issued in his honour by the Government of India is at the left. To its right is a photo of Vellaichamy Thevar, the grandfather of Muthuramalingam Thevar. Behind the statue is a large portrait of Lord Murugan, of whom Muthuramalingam Thevar was an ardent devotee.

A young Thevar girl looks at a portrait of Muthuramalingam Thevar during his youth, in his house in Pasumpon.

Thevar women carrying milk pots meant for abhishekam (anointment) in Thevar Aalayam, Pasumpon.

A Thevar boy performing silambattam, a martial art, as other members of his community cheer him on at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

A Thevar man raises a slogan hailing Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

2 Thevar boys with torches lead their group inside Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

A Thevar man pays obeisance near the samadhi of Muthuramalingam Thevar in Pasumpon, as women from his community walk carrying milk pots on head.

A young Thevar boy ties a charm on a tree at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon. His T-shirt has a portrait of Muthuramalingam Thevar.

Thevars take a risky ride as an overloaded car speeds in Pasumpon.

Folk dancers and musicians perform in a national highway in Manamadurai, as a politician was expected to arrive at the place, on the occasion of Thevar Jayanthi.

Queue of Thevars on the steps behind the statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar in Madurai, on Thevar Jayanthi.

Milk being poured on Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar's statue on the occasion of Thevar Jayanthi in Madurai.

An elderly Thevar woman applies vibhuti (sacred ash) on the forehead of a man at the foot of Muthuramalingam Thevar's statue in Madurai.

Vel (spear) being removed from the cheeks of a Thevar youngster in Madurai, during Thevar Jayanthi.

Long lines of Thevars outside Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon on Thevar Jayanthi.