Kapali Panguni Utsavam Nadaswaram artistes Pending Payment

Kapali Temple falters over traditional artistes payment, yet again

Over three weeks have elapsed since the Panguni Utsavam but the Nadaswaram artistes who presented at the street processions have still not been paid their Sambhavanai

Two years ago, this writer featured a story on how the payments to the Nadaswaram artistes including those who came from remote locations to perform during the street processions at the Panguni Utsavam of the Kapaleeswarar temple were unduly delayed. History is now repeating itself with the payment not yet made to the Nadaswaram artistes who performed last month at the Panguni Utsavam.

Many of these artistes had come from outside the city to present at the street processions in the evening. It is now well over three weeks since the completion of the utsavam but these traditional artistes have still not been paid by the organisers of the festivals. The invitation and programme schedule of the Panguni Utsavam says that the Nadasawaram artistes are being sponsored by Preetha Reddy and Vijaykumar Reddy, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kapaleeswarar temple. 

Interestingly, the treatment meted out to the popular and renowned artistes who presented Kutcheris  in front of the Navarathri Mandapam at the Vidayatri Utsavam following the Panguni Utsavam was in complete contrast as they were paid well and immediately!!! Why then this treatment to the traditional artistes who presented at the street processions and delighted thousands of devotees at the utsavam.

51year old Nadaswaram artiste Iyappan who hails from Thiru Mei Gnanam has been presenting Nadaswaram for the last four decades including in early years at the Lalitha Parameswari temple in Thiru Meiyachur and in Thirupengode near Vaitheeswaran Koil. He was devotionally excited along with his brother to present at the Panguni Utsavam this year. His forefathers have been presenting Nadaswaram for 8 generations and the message to the brothers has always been to continue and protect this historic tradition of Nadaswaram at temple utsavams. 

Almost a month after the presentation by the brothers at the Kapali utsavam and Iyappan is saddened at the treatment met out to the traditional artistes who performed at the street processions. He told this writer that Nadam and Vedam are two eyes of the Lord “The Nadaswaram artistes present in front of the Lord while the Vedic Scholars and Thevaram Othuvars follow the Lord during the processions. There is a great Sampradayam about Nadaswaram and temple festivals. My appa and Guru asked us to keep the Nadaswaram alive and protect it during our lifetime. Each Swaram is a Devathai and the belief is that they are listening to our presentation and blessing us from atop.”

"We felt blessed to have performed at the grand Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple in front of so many devotees. We only want to be respected as a traditional artiste. The Sambhavanai is a mark of respect to the artistes who delighted the Lord with their performance. To not be paid after such a long time much after the utsavam has ended is saddening. We console ourselves that we were blessed enough to present in front of Kapaleeswarar and that feeling is unmatched."

Blessed Feeling- Adikara Nandi presentation

55 year old Murugavel hails from Sithakadu. He performed on the Adikaara Nandi day, a day prior to Thiru Mei Gnanam brothers' presentation. He too told this writer on Thursday night that he considers it a blessing to have performed on such a special occasion in front of thousands of devotees. He says that Asthana Vidwan of the Kapaleeswarar temple Mohan Dass, who roped in artistes for the Panguni Utsavam, took great care of them organising food, coffee and water. "But to not receive the Sambhavanai for our performance till date is saddening but that is what Swami has decided and we have no complaints about that. The satisfaction for us is from the performance and happiness that we saw on the faces of the devotees" says Murugavel with a tinge of sadness at the treatment meted out to Nadaswaram artistes at the Panguni utsavam.

"I have presented during the Rishabham procession in the decades gone by at the Panguni utsavam and in those years the payment used to be made on the same day. It is a surprise that recently the temple has been delaying the payment to the Nadaswaram artistes. "

The artistes who performed at the Panguni Utsavam are hoping that the authorities will clear the payment at the earliest.