Thaipusam in California: A non secular path, 500 walkers, and a feast

“Vel vel Muruganukku” and “Arohara!” are uttered by eight males in biking gear as they trip and push their bikes in direction of the #Shiva Muruga temple in #Concord, California, from San Ramon. The 12 months was 2010 and it was an epic journey for these males. The map they drew out that day, now referred to as the #Thaipusam path is trekked by hundreds of devotees in California.

“Planning the path itself was an expertise. Remember, this was earlier than Google maps. We rode our bicycles, mapping the route,” explains Solai Alagappan, 53, who initiated the stroll. “Walking to Murugan temples throughout #Thaipusam is a 400-year-old custom in #South India. I’ve walked to the Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple at #Palani in #Tamil Nadu and impressed by this custom, needed to organise the same stroll within the US,” says Solai who works for a world tech firm in California. In the primary 12 months, he had 50 folks signal as much as stroll the 21-mile path.

In 2015, Solai and his mates went on to formally set up Pathayathirai, a not-for-profit, with the only goal of organising walks and hikes that carry the neighborhood collectively and help their non secular and bodily well-being. Among their initiatives, the #Thaipusam trek has garnered a gentle following and in some years has had over 3,000 walkers.

This 12 months for #Thaipusam, a brand new path which ends up in the Velmont Spiritual Centre in Mountain House was created by the identical group. At the temple perched on the highest level of the open grasslands, sits an aimpon (panchaloha) statue of lord Murugan. “Once we did the recce and confirmed the route, we did one other 4 rounds by foot to get the operational features lined. The scenic path to the bottom of the hill is 4.5 miles and we created a girivalam (a path across the hill) that’s two miles,” says Solai. Being the primary 12 months, the group made a acutely aware determination to permit solely 500 walkers, a majority of whom had been from California, but additionally included folks from Washington DC and #Boston as nicely.

Before strolling uphill, the walkers attain a thaneerpandal (resting spot) arrange by a bunch of volunteers. “Our volunteers made panakam, buttermilk, tea, mini samosas, sundal and packed a shot of vitality treats for the walkers. In my final journey to India, I finished at these small shops in and round #Tamil Nadu, what we name pottikadai and curated a giveaway. The pack included mini murukku, orange mittaai, puli mittai, jujubes, fig halwa, and achocolate bar. We needed to help small enterprise homeowners,” shares Alagu AL, the co-ordinator for the thaneerpandal, who works in accounting and finance.

The group reiterates that the initiative is volunteer pushed. “For instance, Ganesh Babu oversees the permits, communications and registrations. Uday works on the path operations. There are so many extra individuals who come collectively to make this stroll occur. Breakfast for walkers and volunteers was cooked in house kitchens close to the placement. Over 100 volunteers actively participated to help the stroll,” they are saying.

Across the globe the pusa saapaadu (lunch) is a major a part of the #Thaipusam celebrations and considered as prasadam. “We served elai saapaadu (banana leaf meals) on the neighhourhood college. Volunteers gathered the day before today and reduce over 200 kilograms of greens and helped with the prep work. The dishes had been cooked within the Dublin kitchen of Anjappar Hotels, because it’s the closest to the Velmont temple,” explains Selvam Sethuraman, 47, and Meyyappan Ramanathan, 57, lively volunteers who spearheaded the meals and repair operations for the stroll.

On the banana leaf there’s salt, lemon pickle, potato masala, cabbage kootu, a blended rice, appalam and a beneficiant serving of steaming scorching ponni uncooked rice. Ghee and dal is adopted by pumpkin tamarind curry, tomato rasam and white pumpkin sambhar. The meal ends with a javarisi and semiya payasam. Volunteers are available turns and take care all the way in which until the vessels are washed and saved again within the cabinets.

“Over the years, we’ve been in a position to encourage and information people in Michigan, Texas, and Washington DC they usually’ve created related trails and experiences. The entire concept is to recreate the #Palani pathayathira, that we miss,” says Solai.

The chants, rituals, and vibrant kavadi and pal kodam processions on a chilly Saturday morning, had been a celebration of neighborhood spirit. For some it was penance, for others it was emotional therapeutic and non secular renewal; and for nonetheless others it was an attractive morning trek on the finish of which they obtained to take house a bottle of #Palani panchamirtham, shipped out from India, and sit down for a elai saapadu.

With the success of this path and help from a community of volunteers, planning the 2026 #Thaipusam celebrations has begun. Should you want a slice of Tamil tradition, the Velmont #Thaipusam path needs to be subsequent in your bucket record.