Apart from keeping people in constant fear, the pandemic continues to take a toll on their beliefs and happiness in gathering to celebrate festivals. At the Rockfort temple in Trichy, the annual Chithirai festivities are hit. The surge in Covid-19 cases has made the HR&CE department cancel the centuries-old ‘Settipen Maruthuvam’, which celebrates new life.
Arulmigu Thayumanava Swamy temple on the Rockfort hillock, one of the major Saivite temples in south India, hosts the Chithirai festival for two weeks annually. Apart from the temple car festival, during which devotees pull the wooden car through the streets of the city, the conduct of ‘Settipen Maruthuvam’ a festival re-enacting the timely help of Lord Shiva to a pregnant woman, an ardent devotee, in childbirth is a significant event.
Legend has it that a woman named Rathnavathi developed labour pain when she was alone at home. The Lord took the form of the pregnant woman’s mother to help his devotee to deliver a child, thus earning the name of the chief deity ‘Thayum Aanavar’ (he who became a mother). The event attracts pregnant women to the temple as a special herbal "legiyam" is prepared and distributed to women for healthy childbirth. "The legiyam has 18 herbs and popular among people staying abroad as well. Many source the legiyam through their relatives as it is believed to be healthy. The festival celebrated the reason for the lord’s name," says G Aravanaiselvan, a retired HR&CE official from Rockfort.
Pregnant women attend the ritual at the stone hall at the base of the Rockfort temple in the belief that their childbirth will be smooth. "As the festivals were cancelled last year, we had wanted to participate this year. But at the last moment, the management has cancelled. We can conduct the festival by limiting footfall and following the restrictions," R Sundarrajan, a devotee from North street said. As another option, the devotees have sought the HR&CE to hold the rituals and relay the events through live streaming.
"The decision to cancel festivals was taken based on the government’s instruction. Thousands of people gather and so it is difficult to implement the Covid-19 restrictions," a senior HR&CE official said. Settipen child delivery and temple car events were scheduled to be held on April 21 and April 22.