Over three weeks has elapsed since the Panguni Utsavam but the Nadaswaram artistes who presented at the street processions have still not been paid
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 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 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 was in complete contrast as they were paid immediately.
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 Lalitha Parameswari temple in Thiru mee Yechur and Thirupengode near Vaitheeswaran Koil. He was devotionally excited along with his brother to present at the Panguni Utsavam. His forefathers have been presenting Nadaswaram for 8 generations. But almost a month after his presentation at the Kapali utsavam, he is saddened at the treatment met out to the traditional artistes who performed at the street procession. 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.”
"We felt blessed to have performed at the grand Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple. 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 able to present in front of Kapaleeswarar and that feeling is unmatched."
55 year old Murugavel hails from Sithakadu. He performed on the Adikaara Nandi day. He too told this writer 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 Mohan Dass 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."
It is hoped that the authorities will clear the payment at the earliest to these traditional artistes.