90th week of Saturday Sangamam at Sailam was celebrated yesterday with the concept of Connecting Generations. 

As usual around 90 elders participated.  We invited Mr. Madasamy, Retired Head Master, Sree Paramakalyani Hr Sec School and Ms. Srija Gomathy from Tenkasi.  Ms. Srija is one of the famous writers and the journalist and she is native of Alawrkurichy. She was in Chennai and focussing on her writing and making social awareness through her writing. She spoke about her experience of travelling with her husband extensively all parts of India and having different experiences to learn life lessons.  She shared one experience travelled to “Thar desert” area in Rajasthan with her husband and how the people living with struggle for their drinking water and the basic necessity there for their survival. She motived the elders how we are blessed comparing with the life of Desert people.

She mentioned that she lost her husband last December at his age of 54 years and within their 30 years of married life he lived a life of 300 years for her. Her husband and his family motivated her to become a good writer and she wrote more than 150 books.

Ms. Srija requested elders to jot down daily five points about their life experience on (1) Voting experience now and their youth stories (2) celebrating festivals with some traditional formalities (3) life in their childhood and youth (4) marriage how and it happened earlier co paired with current events.

Mr. Madasamy and others mentioned that such information would be vital and important.  Ms. Srija mentioned that such information will become as historical knowledge or evidence for next generations. Mr. Lakshman mentioned that his salary was Rs 210/- and his marriage expenses were Rs 2000/- at that time it was 10 times of his salary. Now people spending huge amount in marriage and following culture of reception which happens on the previous day evening and marriage rituals are more of formality. Elders shared their experiences of marriages in their time and importance of family relationship and neighbour’s cooperation without any caste and creed differences. Mr. Lakshman mentioned that those days “Mutham” front portion of every house was connected and any one can just pass or talk 🗣️ from this corner to another house. Now everything is changed. We need to document what we experienced and enjoyed during those golden days and she wish to bring them out as books. 📚

Ms. Srija appreciated our services for society and particularly for the elders, food service and caring is the greatest job done by VAMA and thanked our trustee and  Mr. Madasamy  who  introduced her to our VAMA  .

Since this week our concept was connecting generation ,7 NSS students came from SPK college and two training teachers from Merit B Ed college participated and conducted the program interestingly. Trainee teacher Ms. Kowsalya and Ms. Rubi conducted the program and they make the elders to participate in the all activities done by SPK college students. One of the elderly woman Mrs. Diraviyam who did not participate in any activity till date and nothing spoke on the mike, she sung one vilakku song.  It was a daily vilakku pooja song, earlier all women in the evening sung at their home in front of their home vilakku.

“சீதா திருவிளக்கு

சீதேவி லட்சுமி

கோல திருவிளக்கு

கும்பிடட நானறியேன்

பந்தலிலே கொண்டுவைக்கும்

பவள திருவிளக்கு

கொட்டவையில் கொண்டுவைக்கும்

கோல திருவிளக்கு

வில்வ அர்ச்சனையும்

வெகுநாள் புண்ணியமும்

உனக்குண்டான என்னையும்

எனக்குண்டான சோறும்

தொட்டிலுக்கு பிள்ளையும்

தொழுவுக்கு பசுவும்

இத்துணையும் தான்  கொடுத்த

திருவிளக்கு நச்சியாரே “

Our guest Mrs. Srija appreciated this song and all are amazed her voice in the mike.

One elder Mr. Vellachamy shared information about Sree Sivasailanathar and Sree paramakalyani Panguni Ther Thiruvila and importance of connecting all villages around with some kind of significance which are followed now also such as settikulam people has the first right to pull the ther. He also shared that there were two ther and Swamy ther which was very big got drowned in Ambur Kadana Nathi river and the current big ther is small one at that time. Many interesting information were shared by the elders very eagerly, all guest amazed  to see the involvement and interest shown by elders .

post having morning malt drink at 11.30 am till 3.30 pm Mrs. Kowsalya and Ms. Ruby final year B.Ed students from Merit College (as complete) and 7 NSS students from Sree Paramkalyani, Alwarkurichy engaged and entertained elders with lot of fun filled games songs ,dances, quizzes etc.

Tasty Sambar rice and curd rice with coriander leaves chutney and sarkarai pongal appalam and butter milk was served as lunch and all appreciated the taste of food and thanked kitchen cook (women) for such nice food.

In the evening VAMA team discussed with elders about the next week gathering and accepted that all will assemble at Alawarkurichy first and see Sri Siva Sailanathar and then proceed to see VK Puram, Sree sivanthiyappar therthiruvila.  We will planned some stall with cold buttermilk or Juice for devotees who pulls ther as done in the past.

Another pleasant surprise was the presence of Sh. Mohanraj, LIC officer from Rajapalayam with his wife and son. Sh. Mohanraj appreciated the activities to engage with elders and mentioned that he brought his son to see such activities to imbibe the caring sense.