We started from Chennai at about 5.30 in the morning during May first week keeping in mind the hot sun after 12.00. With a normal speed of 70-80 km. and after having breakfast in between, we reached Palani town by 13.30 hrs. As we have already booked a A/C. room in a descent hotel, we parked our Car inside the hotel campus and went to take our lunch. Considering the hot temperature, we decided to take lunch in a nearby hotel. It was cheap at Rs.50 per square meal. It is not good but at the same it is not bad.
We have already booked the ticket for Thangaratham-Golden Chariat pulling. The ticket costs Rs.2000-00.
First Step:
Any one who visit Palani, has to first worship and put their prayer first to the Pillaiyar seated in the foot of the foot path leading to Palani temple. Then get a coconut for thrasing into the pit opposite to the Pillaiyar temple.
The coconut costs only Rs.10-00.
The stalls which sell the coconut with abisheka thattu are not selling the coconuts alone for thrashing. There is separate stalls which sell coconuts meant for thrasing.
Before thrasing the coconut, one has to pray before Pillaiyar first and then thrash the coconut in the pit situated opposite to the Pillaiyar temple. We did the same.
Then, proceeded to the place where Rope car station is situated. From Pillaiyar temple, foot of Palani foot path to rope car station, necessarily we have hired an auto, who demanded Rs.60-00. Whether it is high or correct, we do not know. The auto driver took us to the rope car station.
In the rope car station, there are two queues with different rates. One is Rs.15-00 and the other is Rs.50-00.
We were told that the persons who bought Rs.50-00 ticket will be preferred first. We took the Rs.50-00 ticket and the rope car took us to the Palani hills. Going in the rope car, enjoying the scenic beauty of Palani and neighbourhood is a pleasant one and it is lovely.
Now we reached Palani hills. Even on working day, it is was crowdy but manageable.
Second step:
On reaching the Hill, we went to the Devasthanam office to confirm our ticket for thangaratham pulling.
Third step:
With the thangaratham ticket nearly 5 persons are allowed on VIP entrance otherwise Rs.100-00 ticket. We need not buy Rs,100-00 ticket. We were allowed in a separate entry. We worshiped God Palani Murugan.
Fourth step:
We were informed that thangaratham pulling will be at 19.00 hrs. Therefore, we stayed there in the hills, half taking rest because of our long journey from Chennai on road and half enjoying the scenes below the hills.
At about 18.55 hrs, we were asked to stand in the phase allotted to us. At this point we must state that according to the date of booking, the Devasthanam authorities allot the phase for each ticket holder. There are nearly 10 phases around the hill temple. Due to seniority, we stood at 2nd phase. The 1st phase of pulling the thangaratham is done by temple priests, trustees,etc. Then our turn in 2nd phase. With all clearness, chanting "Muruganikku arogara", we along with other allottees of 2nd phase pulled the thangaratham by keeping in mind the only prayer of God nothing else. The thangartham goes round the hill temple and reaches the spot where it started.
Fifth step:
After the thangaratham reaches its original place, the Devasthanam authorities directs each of the ticket holder to form a queue. One by one, the temple priest, puts "parivartham" and gives a prasadam. The prasadam kept in a bag consists of a plastic bucket in which, the prasadams were packed apart from the photo of Lord Murugan in King style is also given.
The entire function ended about 20.30 hrs. We were told that the last trip of rope car to go down is 21.00 hrs. Therefore, we rushed to rope car station in the hill and after purchasing Rs.50-00 ticket, we were brought down to Palani
Sixth step;
After reaching the bottom of rope car station, we hired again an auto to go to Pillaiyar temple where we started. We paid Rs.40-00 (the auto man was kind enough to charge less than what we paid earlier)
We reached the Pillaiyar temple at the foot of Palani Temple foot path, we purchased one coconut for thrasing it at the pit opposite to the Pillaiyar temple. We worshiped Pillaiyar. Rather reminded HIM that our prayer to Lord Muruga be granted because Pillaiyar is said to be instrumental to help Lord Muruga in all aspects and Lord Muruga is duty bound to hear his brother Pillaiyar. We thrased the coconut in the place meant for it and returned to our hotel. It was about 21.30 hrs.
We went to a good hotel at Palani say "Nalabhagam" and took our night tiffin and came back to the hotel and stayed there. On the next day morning, saying goodbye to the hotel staff, vacating the room, by glimsing the Hills Lord Muruga from Palani town, we started our journey from Palani to our native place
This is the experience about Thangaratham chariot pulling at Palani hills.
The procedure to book a ticket is by booking in the Devasthanam office before hand or making arrangements to book the ticket in advance. We were told that ticket booking may not be permissible after 16.00 hrs of the same day.
Anybody who read this, may we feel that definitely enjoy as if they went to Palani Hills and pulled Thangaratham or know the procedure to do so.
May God Lord Muruga give all his blessings to those who believe in HIM.
We have already booked the ticket for Thangaratham-Golden Chariat pulling. The ticket costs Rs.2000-00.
First Step:
Any one who visit Palani, has to first worship and put their prayer first to the Pillaiyar seated in the foot of the foot path leading to Palani temple. Then get a coconut for thrasing into the pit opposite to the Pillaiyar temple.
The coconut costs only Rs.10-00.
The stalls which sell the coconut with abisheka thattu are not selling the coconuts alone for thrashing. There is separate stalls which sell coconuts meant for thrasing.
Before thrasing the coconut, one has to pray before Pillaiyar first and then thrash the coconut in the pit situated opposite to the Pillaiyar temple. We did the same.
Then, proceeded to the place where Rope car station is situated. From Pillaiyar temple, foot of Palani foot path to rope car station, necessarily we have hired an auto, who demanded Rs.60-00. Whether it is high or correct, we do not know. The auto driver took us to the rope car station.
In the rope car station, there are two queues with different rates. One is Rs.15-00 and the other is Rs.50-00.
We were told that the persons who bought Rs.50-00 ticket will be preferred first. We took the Rs.50-00 ticket and the rope car took us to the Palani hills. Going in the rope car, enjoying the scenic beauty of Palani and neighbourhood is a pleasant one and it is lovely.
Now we reached Palani hills. Even on working day, it is was crowdy but manageable.
Second step:
On reaching the Hill, we went to the Devasthanam office to confirm our ticket for thangaratham pulling.
Third step:
With the thangaratham ticket nearly 5 persons are allowed on VIP entrance otherwise Rs.100-00 ticket. We need not buy Rs,100-00 ticket. We were allowed in a separate entry. We worshiped God Palani Murugan.
Fourth step:
We were informed that thangaratham pulling will be at 19.00 hrs. Therefore, we stayed there in the hills, half taking rest because of our long journey from Chennai on road and half enjoying the scenes below the hills.
At about 18.55 hrs, we were asked to stand in the phase allotted to us. At this point we must state that according to the date of booking, the Devasthanam authorities allot the phase for each ticket holder. There are nearly 10 phases around the hill temple. Due to seniority, we stood at 2nd phase. The 1st phase of pulling the thangaratham is done by temple priests, trustees,etc. Then our turn in 2nd phase. With all clearness, chanting "Muruganikku arogara", we along with other allottees of 2nd phase pulled the thangaratham by keeping in mind the only prayer of God nothing else. The thangartham goes round the hill temple and reaches the spot where it started.
Fifth step:
After the thangaratham reaches its original place, the Devasthanam authorities directs each of the ticket holder to form a queue. One by one, the temple priest, puts "parivartham" and gives a prasadam. The prasadam kept in a bag consists of a plastic bucket in which, the prasadams were packed apart from the photo of Lord Murugan in King style is also given.
The entire function ended about 20.30 hrs. We were told that the last trip of rope car to go down is 21.00 hrs. Therefore, we rushed to rope car station in the hill and after purchasing Rs.50-00 ticket, we were brought down to Palani
Sixth step;
After reaching the bottom of rope car station, we hired again an auto to go to Pillaiyar temple where we started. We paid Rs.40-00 (the auto man was kind enough to charge less than what we paid earlier)
We reached the Pillaiyar temple at the foot of Palani Temple foot path, we purchased one coconut for thrasing it at the pit opposite to the Pillaiyar temple. We worshiped Pillaiyar. Rather reminded HIM that our prayer to Lord Muruga be granted because Pillaiyar is said to be instrumental to help Lord Muruga in all aspects and Lord Muruga is duty bound to hear his brother Pillaiyar. We thrased the coconut in the place meant for it and returned to our hotel. It was about 21.30 hrs.
We went to a good hotel at Palani say "Nalabhagam" and took our night tiffin and came back to the hotel and stayed there. On the next day morning, saying goodbye to the hotel staff, vacating the room, by glimsing the Hills Lord Muruga from Palani town, we started our journey from Palani to our native place
This is the experience about Thangaratham chariot pulling at Palani hills.
The procedure to book a ticket is by booking in the Devasthanam office before hand or making arrangements to book the ticket in advance. We were told that ticket booking may not be permissible after 16.00 hrs of the same day.
Anybody who read this, may we feel that definitely enjoy as if they went to Palani Hills and pulled Thangaratham or know the procedure to do so.
May God Lord Muruga give all his blessings to those who believe in HIM.
