Submitted by the Seattle Tamil community
The Seattle Tamil community and volunteers of the Vedic Education and Development Academy (VEDA) temple in Redmond organized a 5K Padhayathirai (walkathon) to come together and celebrate Vaikasi Visakam. It was typical weather in Redmond on May 21 — rainy, 53 degrees and overcast skies, but that did not deter the 80 or so enthusiastic community members of age 5 to 70 from taking part in the walkathon.
The event started with members gathering at around 9 a.m. at the VEDA temple, after taking blessings from Lord Muruga and Sri Venkateswara. They were then dropped at the starting point of the walkathon. They were given milk pots and Kaavadis (a semi-circle shaped light wooden piece of ornamental work to carry offerings such as fruits, flowers, etc.) to carry to the temple as offerings to Lord Muruga.
All of them started the walk from the temple land (WA 202 and Sahalee Way) at around 10 a.m. They formed a beeline and followed pedestrian traffic rules all the way to the VEDA temple on Northeast 76th Street in Redmond. Around 20 members carried Kaavadis and about 25 members carried milk pots. They rendered devotional songs all along the way. The group reached the temple around noon and was received with thunderous welcome music. Special events and Poojas for the Lord Muruga took place in the temple to mark the occasion of Vaikasi Visakam.
Vaikasi Visakam is observed as the birthday of Lord Muruga which falls in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (mid-May to mid-June). Vaikasi is the second month of Tamil calendar year. Visakam is the 14th of the 27 Nakshatras (astrological stars). Vaikasi Visakam falls on the full moon day in this month and is celebrated with special Poojas and events in Murugan temples all over the world. Some of the Hindu religious poems such as “Kandha Shashti Kavacham” and “Thirupugazh” addressed to the Lord Muruga are recited with devotion.
It was a great opportunity for the participants to experience the joy of physical health aspects like walkathon, art of making the Kaavadis, enjoying the culture through ancient instrumental music and Bhajans (devotional songs) as they celebrated the festival of spiritual significance. It was the first time ever such a walkathon was organized in the Seattle area and the community is looking forward to many more such events in the future.
