18 January 2021 Tomorrow marks the start of my favourite time of the year; a time that evokes intense love, joy and excitement. A feeling that surpasses the excitement of my birthday or any other festival washes over me. It is the time of the Thai Poosam Kavady and it was during this time, many moons ago, that I experienced, first hand, God's grace and mercy and today I choose to share it with the world.
I was living in Jhb at the time and had been experiencing terrible lower back pain that worsened with every day, eventually resulting in a moving pain down my left leg. Walking had become unbearable and without the use of a crutch, was virtually impossible. I was able to drive myself to work on most days, and, thankfully, had a boss who kindly gave up his parking spot closest to the door, just so that I didn't have to walk a great distance!
I had already been to the physician many times. Injections and a pile of medicines did nothing to abate this pain. My next step was to see an orthopaedic surgeon and possibly go for an MRI scan, so when the Thai Poosum Kavady festival came along that January, nobody expected me to attend. Wild horses were not going to keep me away though and so, much to everyone's worry, I started to prepare for the day.
Melrose Temple is one of the oldest temples in South Africa, the original wood and iron structure having been built in 1899 by the Indian people of indenture. A temple rich in culture, the wood and iron structure is long gone and in it's place is the beautiful facebrick building, with carvings, set on a huge expanse of land, steeped in spiritual vibrations. It was to this temple that I went to, on that hot, Sunday morning to give thanks to the Lord for having saved the lives of my sister and my niece.
Every step was sheer torture and my husband, Indran, even told me that he will carry the kavady for me. But I was adamant. It was I who needed to carry it. The day progressed and the clanging of cymbals and shouts of the Bhajan groups rendering the most beautiful songs grew louder and louder. It was amazing that so many groups, each with their own instruments and singing their own songs, managed to create such harmonious melodies without conflicting the other. The smell of camphor, vibhuti, marigold flowers and incense filled the air. It would have all been perfect, had it not been for the intense pain in my back that ran down my leg.
The time of walking back to the temple had come, and I could not bend down to pick up my kavady. I was almost rooted to the ground and Indran had to pick it up for me and place it onto my shoulder. I started to walk, albeit very slowly. I followed the throngs of people, one tiny step at a time and ended up completing the walk to and around the temple. It took me a VERY long time!
I got home that evening, drained and tired...but also a very different feeling had washed over me. For the first time in many years, I felt content...so content that I passed out only to awaken the next morning... Lo and behold... after 8 weeks of having experienced the most excruciating pain, I had not even the tiniest niggle. I'm not sure what happened that day...but somehow, God worked His miracle on me and had eased my suffering. I could walk, I could run, I could jump! It is no wonder that I love this time of the year so much...a time whereby I felt God's healing hand on me. It is for this reason that the first chapter of my first novel begins on the temple grounds during the kavady Festival.
This year will be different...there will be no throngs of people on the grounds; no clanging of cymbals and drum beats resonating through the air; no decorated wooden arches bedecked with palm leaves, marigold flowers and peacock feathers; no aroma of wood fired biryani! Instead, this year we use technology to our advantage and tune in to virtual poojas, satsanghs and hawans. The smell of camphor and agarbathi will permeate our own homes, as we listen to the chants over Zoom and FB Live.
This year we introspect, we close our eyes and are transported to Melrose, Umgeni, Mount Edgecombe, Batu Caves, Palani Hills and Thiruchendur...we pray and we continue to honour and worship Him, for it does not matter that we cannot go to His temple...His most beautiful temple resides within us!
Vetri Vel Muruganukku...Arohara!