Dolai tour USA update - Seattle Area Celebrations

Sri Lakshmi  Haygreeva Dolai in Seattle

Six Thirumanjanams, ten regular Dolais and six mini dolais in six days! This is just unbelievable, but it all happened without any glitch by the grace of Sri Lakhsmi Hayagreeva Perumal in Seattle from October 17^th – 23^rd.   Couple of weeks before Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Perumal arrived in Seattle, there were few openings, but all of sudden requests to host Perumal ‘s Dolai poured in. within no time the schedule turned out to be full. To provide an opportunity to as many bhakthas as possible, the organizers added an extra dolai programs per day.

When Perumal arrived in Seattle on the 17^th evening at least 25 devotees greeted Him with Purnakumbha Swagatham. The next day Samprokshnam and Thirumanjanm were performed in the midst of 30 shihsyas reciting Prabandham, Vedam and singing. After few hours of rest, the first dolai was performed while gosti recitated pasurams, and talented musicians sang and played Veena.

Everyday there was one thirumanjanam and two dolais. The three attractive pieces during Thirumanjanm were Prabandha Parayanam, Sthothra parayanam, vocal and instrumental performances at almost every place Perumal went.  At one place an young artist danced for pasurams which were composed into a song by one of the mami’s from Sri Rangam. Every host poured their devotion in their own way, may it be lot of prabandha parayanam, sthothra paryanams or music performances.  

Due to an overwhelming requests, the organizers had to squeeze short timed dolais(mini dolais) over the weekend. Highlight of all is an unexpected Purappadu on Saturday evening. The original plan was to take Perumal to a an bhaktha’s place for 15 minutes, but thanks to our incredible aaradhakar Sri Varadaraja Bhatter, who gave an idea of Purappadu. Soon after dolai program was over, Perumal was taken to the house which was two doors away through the streets while gosti recited pasurams and chanted the Vedam. This was a scintillating experience to all the bhakthas who attended the program that evening.

Within no time the final day arrived.  The last dolai was just as exciting and enjoyable as every other dolai with prabandha parayanam, vocal and instrumental music. As a goodbye to Perumal one of the bhakthas played a beautiful song to Perumal after Pallandu.

Though it was a week program, Perumal came like a whirlwind, mesmerized and blessed everyone and left Seattle. Even after a week everyone is sharing the incredible experience that they had in the Thirumanjanam and Dolai seva that happened in Seattle. It is not an exaggeration, but at every event there were not less that 20 people enjoying Perumal sevai.

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contributed by Srinivas Khedam

Link to photos from Seattle

Please see the attachment for the schedule of tirumanjanams and dolais in the Seattle area for October 18 - 23.