Past and Present: Padithurai, Madurai's lost glory
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MADURAI: For the current generation in Madurai city, Vaigai
river may appear like a polluted water body with green patches of grass
where the stray cattle graze in leisure. But for the people in their
twilight years, the memory of the river is different and delightful which they cherish even today and may take away with their time.
If we describe the river and its surrounding area as place with sandy surface glowing with white sand, pebbles, conches, reeds and crystal clear water, it would look like a myth for the youngsters of current generation. But that's how the elders above 50 years describe Vaigai river in Madurai. Among their memories lie the ghats (Padithurai) of River Vaigai and most significant of them all are Obula Padithurai, Pechiamman Padithurai, Thirumalai Rayar Padithurai and Anumankoil Padithurai.
Unfortunately, today, they exist only in the names of the streets corresponding to their ghats as none of them exists any longer. They were apparently lost around 1980s when the corporation paved a road along the river and the river bed was heavily silted due to the great floods in Vaigai in the year 1979.
D Devaraj, a History scholar in the city, states that the ghats in the city which are known by their names could have been established by Nayak kings during their regime in Madurai. However the ghats existed from time immemorial. "There are references about Padithurais in Sangam literature like Paripadal and Madurai Kanchi which speaks about these structures and how they sheltered the city during floods", he says. "The Nayaks during their regime established these structures with stones and they used to be a safe place for those accessing the river for various purposes like to fetch water or for bathing. The floods and flow in River Vaigai stopped with the construction of Vaigai dam and eventually these structures were also wiped out", he stated.
During an interaction, S Balasubramanian (60) from Pechiamman Padithurai area narrated his childhood memories about the ghat. "While we used to jump from the last step into the river, the brave lads in our village used to plunge into the river from the top because in those days the river used to be very deep", he said. "The river bed used to be filled with white sand, reeds, pebbles and water used to looked crystal clear," he recalled with nostalgia. "When one gets tired of walking on the sand, the Padithurais were the resting points near the river. There were Padithurais corresponding to the opposite bank which were later turned into roads," said O Mayandi (58) from the same area. "We used to spend their leisure time on the river bed and people thronged there with their families during festivities", he further added.
The old men also recalled many celebrations that used to be held in the ghats. "Each Padithurai had a mandapam (a hall constructed of stones) and deities used them as abode during Chithirai, Putthuthoppu and Kaman festivals. Of the three famous festivals, Lord Indra's Kaman festival, which was initially celebrated for one whole week, has now come down to a one-day event", recalls K S Raja, another resident. "During Aadi Perukku festival, people used to come to the river and Padithurais were their favourite places then," he added. "We, old men seriously miss all that fun and frolic we used to have in the river and Padithurais. The current generation may never know them and the beauty of River Vaigai then", A native of that area concluded on a sad note.
If we describe the river and its surrounding area as place with sandy surface glowing with white sand, pebbles, conches, reeds and crystal clear water, it would look like a myth for the youngsters of current generation. But that's how the elders above 50 years describe Vaigai river in Madurai. Among their memories lie the ghats (Padithurai) of River Vaigai and most significant of them all are Obula Padithurai, Pechiamman Padithurai, Thirumalai Rayar Padithurai and Anumankoil Padithurai.
Unfortunately, today, they exist only in the names of the streets corresponding to their ghats as none of them exists any longer. They were apparently lost around 1980s when the corporation paved a road along the river and the river bed was heavily silted due to the great floods in Vaigai in the year 1979.
D Devaraj, a History scholar in the city, states that the ghats in the city which are known by their names could have been established by Nayak kings during their regime in Madurai. However the ghats existed from time immemorial. "There are references about Padithurais in Sangam literature like Paripadal and Madurai Kanchi which speaks about these structures and how they sheltered the city during floods", he says. "The Nayaks during their regime established these structures with stones and they used to be a safe place for those accessing the river for various purposes like to fetch water or for bathing. The floods and flow in River Vaigai stopped with the construction of Vaigai dam and eventually these structures were also wiped out", he stated.
During an interaction, S Balasubramanian (60) from Pechiamman Padithurai area narrated his childhood memories about the ghat. "While we used to jump from the last step into the river, the brave lads in our village used to plunge into the river from the top because in those days the river used to be very deep", he said. "The river bed used to be filled with white sand, reeds, pebbles and water used to looked crystal clear," he recalled with nostalgia. "When one gets tired of walking on the sand, the Padithurais were the resting points near the river. There were Padithurais corresponding to the opposite bank which were later turned into roads," said O Mayandi (58) from the same area. "We used to spend their leisure time on the river bed and people thronged there with their families during festivities", he further added.
The old men also recalled many celebrations that used to be held in the ghats. "Each Padithurai had a mandapam (a hall constructed of stones) and deities used them as abode during Chithirai, Putthuthoppu and Kaman festivals. Of the three famous festivals, Lord Indra's Kaman festival, which was initially celebrated for one whole week, has now come down to a one-day event", recalls K S Raja, another resident. "During Aadi Perukku festival, people used to come to the river and Padithurais were their favourite places then," he added. "We, old men seriously miss all that fun and frolic we used to have in the river and Padithurais. The current generation may never know them and the beauty of River Vaigai then", A native of that area concluded on a sad note.
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