Legendary Tamil writer, Kalki, in his magnum opus, Ponniyin Selvan, narrates a scene along the banks of Veeranam lake where young warrior Vanthiya Devan is enthralled by the Adi Perukku celebrations. As the place swarms with humanity, he hears girls singing: “Vadavaru is surging, come and behold, you maidens. Vellaru is rushing, admire it friends, Cauvery is rolling in, come have a look at it, girls.”
On Thursday, when Adi Perukku was celebrated this year, had Vanthiya Devan rode in his horse to the same spot, he would not have heard the girls’ song but only witnessed the disappointment in the faces of the newly married couples, who were there to let their wedding garlands float away in the river. As they were forced to leave the garlands in the dry bed or throw them into the shallow puddles after conducting the associated rituals, the resentment over the river not in spate was palpable. Of course, not many couples turned up at Anaikkarai, a popular spot for the celebration of Aadi Perukku. Many drove off to Poompuhar to perform the rituals in the sea, said a van driver at Anaikkarai.
“Never ever have I seen Kollidam River not being in spate at this time of the year. Even in those dry years, there would be some water flowing. Last year the river was flooded and many newly weds were there,” said Senthamarai, a shopkeeper in Anaikkarai. K Anandhan, a businessman from Thirupanandhal said, “I have come here along with my family to perform the rituals as my son Venkatesh Anandh got married recently. He and his wife Durga left their marriage garlands in the river though there is little water.”
Explaining the ritual of leaving garlands in flowing water, K Maran of Muttam said: “Normally, we don’t throw away puja flowers into the dustbin as we ascribe divinity to them. The same way, we cannot throw marriage garlands in the dustbin. So the garlands are kept at home and let to float away in the river during Adi Perukku.”
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