The large procession is now on it's way to the Temple. Along the way the chariot will make three stops to receive offerings from devotees lining the route.

After little more than a hour the procession reaches the temple. By now the temple is thronged withe thousands of people. Many are in the long queues waiting to have lunch. The Brake Village Alayam is renowned for the delicious vegetable biryani served there. Approximately 15000 meals will be served on the day.

As the devotees leave the Alayam at the end of the day there are happy face everywhere. It has been an amazing, spiritually uplifting, 10 days and once again the festival was a huge success. From the patrons, trustees, elders and the management committee of the Alayam a huge thank you to the many sponsors, volunteers and well wishers for their unstinting contributions.

The Alayam team: Trustees Messrs P Pollayah, P M Rajoo, S Moopanar, B Moodley, K A Anandhan. HLVP Mr T N Govender

CEO: Geeva Subrayan, Secretariat: O Moodley & K Naidoo, Public Relations: J Raman H Muruven, Treasury: S Perumal & V Pather, Projects: E Naidoo & C Rajgopaul, Prayer & Festivals: R Pillay & S Govender

Kavady Manager: K Rajoo

Members: N Coopusamy, C Coopusamy, D Naidoo, R Naidoo, D Muthusamy, V Pillay, T Munisami, D Perumal.

Alayam Staff: Billy Govender

Kavady Priests: Shunmugam Nagarajan, D Govender.

GO BOLDLY WITH LORD MURUGA

BRAKE VILLAGE SRI SIVA SOOBRAMANIAR ALAYAM, TONGAAT.

KWA-ZULU NATAL

SOUTH AFRICA

1 HOSPITAL ROAD

BRAKEVILLAGE

TONGAAT

P O BOX 850, TONGAAT,4400 SOUTH AFRICA

TELEPHONE +27 32 9451919

FAX 0865188471

EMAIL brakevillage.muruga@telkomsa.net

The Hawan Ceremony performed by the priest Shunmugam Nagarajan. Sitting in are trustees, the CEO and the assistant priest.

The Kavady Procession led by the TempleChariot left the ground at 11h55 en route to the Temple. The procession route :- exit Outspan Ground, left onto Old Main Road, left onto the R102 heading to the CBD, left onto Watson Highway, right onto Hospital Road - TEMPLE.

The order of the procession, Temple Chariot, the Temple and Edumben Kavadies, followed by devotees carrying kavadies, followed by devotees pulling small chariots.

The procession en route to the Alayam. One of the small chariots.

KAVADY INVITE 2008

What a memorable 10 days we enjoyed as we paid Homage to our Dear Lord Muruga. The festival began with the Flag Hoisting Ceremony on Thursday 13 March 2008. The weather was perfect as a large number of devotees converged on the Alayam for the opening ceremony. The evening prayer followed thereafter and the murthi of Lord Muruga was carried in a procession around the Temple three times. The 108 mantras of Lord Muruga was then recited. Offerings to the Lord were then accepted from the devotees. The evening's programme was concluded with the beautiful rendition of the Murugan Arithi which certainly stirred the many devotees present. Supper was served to all present.

The programme of events continued for the next eight days with the Alayam a buzz of activities as thousands of devotees made their yearly pilgrimage to Brake Village to receive the blessings of Lord Muruga

The main Kavady Procession took place on Saturday 22 March 2008. The weather once again was perfect as the Chariot left the Temple at 8.00 am en route to the Outspan Ground via Watson Highway and Main Road, a distance of about one and a half kilometres.

The Hawan Ceremony at the ground commenced at 8h55 and lasted for about a hour. The approximately 700 devotees that carried kavadies then passed through the prayer marquee as they began preparations for their journey, back to the Temple.