Lenasia South’s Arulmigu Sri Amirtha Kadeswarar Kovil invites the community to join in the annual Mariamman Aadi Gargum Pooja, set to take place from 2 to 11 August 2024. .
Schedule of Events:
- Dhawaja Rohanam (Flag Hoisting): The festival will commence with the flag hoisting ceremony on 2nd August at 18:15.
- Daily Obayams:
- Saturday: 3:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 pm
- Monday to Friday: 18:30 pm
- Aadi Pooram: Special prayers will be held on Tuesday, 6th August at 18:30.
- Decorating of Gargum: The decorating ceremony will take place on 10th August at 3:00 pm.
- Main Day Celebrations: The main event is scheduled for Sunday, 11th August at 09:00, followed by the flag de-hoisting ceremony at 12:30 pm.
The temple welcomes donations of fruits, prayer goods, vegetables, or cash contributions towards the prayers.
For further details, please contact Guru Swaminathan on 084 409 2035.
Significance of the Mariamman Prayer by Yoveshine Pillay
When the Indian population settled in Durban over a century ago, they brought with them their traditional and cultural practices, which are still widely observed today. One such tradition is the annual Mariamman Festival. This festival is a way for the Tamil community to express gratitude to Mother Nature for her provisions through a unique form of prayer and worship.
The Mythology of the Festival
The Mariamman Festival is held annually from July to August, coinciding with the Tamil month of Aadi. In the Tamil calendar, a month starts from the 15th day of the Western calendar month. The festival, referred to locally as the “porridge jol” by the Tamil community, honors Mariamman, the Hindu goddess depicted as Mother Nature. The name “Mariamman” combines “Marie” (rain) and “Amman” (mother), signifying “rain mother.” She is also known as Mother Shakti, meaning power.
The origins of this festival trace back to ancient South India during a time of drought and a measles outbreak. According to mythology, Mother Nature appeared as a woman dressed in yellow, who fed and nursed the people with porridge and a mixture of turmeric and Syringa leaves. After her work was done, she returned to the forest. When villagers sought her out, she revealed herself as the mother of nature and instructed them to worship her annually by distributing porridge. Afterward, she left, bringing rains to help the growth of the harvest.
The Syringa tree, native to India and found in Durban, is known for its healing properties. In Hindu culture, when someone contracts measles or mumps, it is considered a visitation from Mother Mariamman and is treated as holy. The patient is treated with turmeric powder and isolated for a week, followed by a prayer to the Mother.
The Festival
The Mariamman prayer is usually held on a Sunday to allow family members to gather and participate. Devotees wake up at 4 am to prepare the porridge, made from mealie meal soaked five days prior to the prayer for fermentation. Once boiled and cooled, sour milk, shallots, and salt are added. The porridge can be made by anyone. Additionally, three vegetable curries—typically cabbage, pumpkin, and mixed vegetables—are prepared to appease the Goddess.
The prayer starts at 11:30 am, a holy time just before noon, as 12 is considered inauspicious. Offerings include the curries, seven kinds of seeds, and porridge. The seeds are later thrown for the birds, symbolizing appreciation for the harvest. In some traditions, hens are sacrificed to appease the Goddess for past sins. After the offerings, the food is shared among the participants, and it is believed that the porridge can heal ailments. Households also prepare food parcels to distribute to neighbors. The festival often includes an evening prayer where the sacrificed meat is offered to the goddess.
The Mariamman Festival lasts for a month, coinciding with the harvest season. It is a way to thank Mother Nature for her blessings and to pray for rain during times of drought.
