18. The Temple Festival

"This year, we should celebrate our temple festival in a much grander scale than we did last year" said Nachimuthu, the Trustee of the Temple Committee.

"Definitely. We will make it a smashing success" said Ayyakkannu, a member of the Temple Committee.

'Smashing event! Such hype! But he won't open his purse strings to contribute to the expenses' thought another member Marudhamuthu.

Other members just nodded their heads in agreement.

"Okay. Let me and other office bearers start collecting money from people, from tomorrow" said Nachimuthu. 

The meeting of the Temple Committee was concluded on that note.

After two weeks, Nachimuthu arrived at the house of Ponnanbalam, along with three other office bearers of the Temple Committee. Ponnambalam, the richest man in the village, had the reputation for being a benefactor, who would donate liberally to all good causes.

Ponnambalam received the visitors with his customary cordiality. After exchange of pleasantries, Ponnambalam asked Nachimuthu, "So, how are the collections this time?"

"Very disappointing, sir" said Nachimuthu, as if he was waiting to share his disappointment with someone. "The collections are not even one fourth of last year's. Even those who had donated substantial sums last year, donated only paltry sums this year, that too grudgingly. What I found most frustrating was that some people even asked me whether it was necessary to celebrate the temple festival by spending so much money. Some people were defiant and refused to donate more than a token sum of money. It appears that people's faith in God is dwindling."

"However, we hope that you will facilitate the festival to be celebrated in a grand manner, by donating generously, as you always do" pitched in Namasivayam, the Treasurer, worried that the Trustee's lamentation might dissuade the liberal minded Ponnambalam from donating a large sum of money.

After reflecting for a minute, Ponnambalam asked, "Don't you realize why the collections are so poor this year?"

"Of course, we do. Due to the failure of the monsoon last year, agricultural activities were at a low level. Consequently, the harvest was also poor. The fall in income of the farmers had a cascading effect, leading to a fall in the income of the traders and various other categories of people, whose income had always depended on the income of the farmers. People don't have much money left with them. Even those who have money seem to think why they should donate money to the temple festival, when they couldn't meet their own needs completely" said Nachimuthu.

"Exactly. Nearly everyone is in dire straits and hence has no inclination to contribute money to the temple festival. That includes you and me! When the failure of the monsoon has affected agriculture and made people struggle even to survive, will they have any enthusiasm for celebrating the temple festival?" asked Ponnambalam.

"What are you implying?" asked Nachimuthu, in dismay.

"Let us not organize the temple festival this year. You may refund the money you have collected. We will celebrate the festival next year, when, hopefully, things would have turned around after a good monsoon."

"Will not skipping the festival this year amount to showing disrespect to God?" 

"Is it not God's responsibility to ensure that we get the rains regularly? If the monsoon fails, is it not due the fault of God? I am not speaking against God. I am only trying to point out that if we are prevented from celebrating the festival due to God's own actions, it can't be considered an act of disrespect to God. We have been celebrating the temple festival every year. If we are unable to celebrate the festival this year, won't God understand the reason behind it? People will be able to celebrate festivals only when the rains occur regularly and they are able to lead their lives comfortably. How can people, who are struggling to run their families, even think of hosting festivals for gods?

"Okay, sir. We take leave" said Nachimuthu and left along with the other office-bearers, without communicating his acceptance or non-acceptance of Ponnambalam's suggestion.

Thirukkural
Section 1: The Path of Virtue

Chapter 2
The Glory of Rain

Verse 18 (In Tamil)
siRappodu pUsanai seyyAdhu vAnam
vaRakku mEl vAnOrkkum INdu.

Meaning:
If the rain that has to come from the heaven does not arrive, then the rituals of worship, ordained for the gods that dwell in the heaven, will not be performed.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'vENdAm thiruvizhA' by the same author)

Verse 19

Verse 17