MEHANDI

WORLD CLASSICAL TAMIL CONFERENCE 2010

The venue for the 2010 semozhi manadu was Coimbatore (June 23-27). In Coimbatore CODISSIA grounds was the place where the conference were held on for 5 days. All important and eminent people who work or love tamil participated in this conference. A main hall with a seating capacity of arount 50,000 and 30,000 people to be able to watch the conference either by sitting/standing on the ground was well arranged.
Apart from the main hall, there was a museum hosting more than 700 artefacts detailing the history and forms the language has taken. And also a book fair was held nearby, where around 130 publishers had their stalls for display and selling.
Huge temporary complexes were constructed for serving food – for catering approximately 4000 people in five minutes.
On the first day there was a oorvalam (procession) titled Iniyavai Narpathu which are as follows:
Mangala Isai,
Kurinji,
Mullai,
Marudham,
Neithal,
Palai,
War Heroes,
Purananuttru Thai,
Marakudiye Tamil Kudi,
Tamilaga Kalai Valarchi,
Pudhiyadhor Ulagam Seivom,
Kopperunchozhan,
Pisirandhayar,
Manu Needhi Chozhan,
Began presenting a shawl to peacock,
Kavari Veesiya Kaavalan,
Pari gifting his chariot to Mullaikodi,
Adhiyaman presenting a Nellikani to Avvaiyar,
Porkai Pandian,
Rajivan – Mirugangal Nadai,
Silambu Vanjina Maalai (Kannagi),
Unvalithalin Uyarvu,
Velunachiar warfare,
Women in war,
Maram Udan Piranthavazhagirathu,
Love scene transcending caste,
creed barrier,
Suzhandrum Eripinnathu Uzhagam, T
hirukutrala Kuravanchi,
Mannan Koothar with Paanar and Sandror,
Pirpokkum Ella uyirkkum,
Vannangal Verupattal Manidar Vetrumaiyillai,
Rustic Scenes,
Sange Muzhangu,
Dance artistes from Film Industry,
Sadhi,
Mada Verupadatra Tamil Revolution,
Pagirnthu Unn,
Kalathai Vendru Nirkum Historical Tanjore Big Temple,
two floats for Laser Show.

Kalahasthy - One of the Pancha Bhoota shrines of Lord Shiva

Kalahasthy - One of the Pancha Bhoota shrines of Lord Shiva

Kalahasti is located near the pilgrimage town of Tirupati and is visited by thousands of pilgrims. SriKalahasti temple is located 36 km away from Tirupathi in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradhesh, India. This temple is also associated with Rahu and Ketu, (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme).

The vast west facing Kalahastiswara temple (13°45′N 79°42′E) is built adjoining a hill, and on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. At some points, the hill serves as the wall of the temple. The temple prakarams follow the contour of the adjoining hill and hence the temple plan is rather irregular. North of the temple is the Durgambika hill, south is the Kannappar hill andeast is the Kumaraswamy hill. Kannappa Nayanaar, a hunter and an ardent devotee of Kalahasteeswarar offered his own eyes to Lord Shiva. Thus the hunter earned the name of Kannappan. His original name was Thinnan. His statue is therefore present in the sanctum.

History

Legend says that Lord Shiva disguised as Vayu (Air) observed that The Spider (SRI), Cobra (KALA) & Elephant (HASTI) worshipped Him very devotedly. To please the Lord, the spider wove some splendid objects with silk, the elephant brought flowers and washed the idol with water and the snake decorated the idol with some special stones.

A fight with the snake and the elephant began when the elephant removed the precious stones brought by the snake, to decorate the idol with flowers. In the fight that followed, the spider got caught in the middle and the three eventually died.

This devotion was so strong that the Lord merged the three souls in Him and thus the name Sri Kalahasti. So Lord Shiva made them to relieve from the curse and attain salvation, hence this place is called Srikalahasti.