Unjavruthi

This is a procession of bhagavathars and devotees chanting namavalis (chanting different names of various deities in specific rhythm) and singing kirtanas (group chanting of religious hymns or songs to the accompaniment of instrumental music, mainly harmonium) on the streets with the aim of spreading bhakthi (devotion) among as many people as possible. When the group led by bhagavathars goes on the streets singing, residents prostate in front of the lead singer and offer rice for the annadhanam. As a normal practice, the event takes around an hour’s time. Here in the MRK, the unjavruthi covers a temple and five streets surrounding the Vallalar Koil Mandapam, namely, Vallalar Dakshinamoorthy temple, Vijithrayar Street, Vallalar Double and Single Streets, Sannathi Street, and North and South Ramalinga Streets, which have around 200 houses. What make this unjavruthi special are not only all the bhagavathars but also many devotees sing at the procession; most of the residents in those streets pay obeisance to the procession and offer rice; few of them invite the whole group to their house; in the houses more songs are sung, refreshment is served, and then the procession moves on; because of the increasing interest and devotion shown by the resident and visiting devotees, more songs are sung, hence the unjavruthi takes longer time, 4 to 5 hours.