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        The 10 day Panguni Thiruvizha of the Karpagaambaal Kapaaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, Chennai is being celebrated now and the Car festival was held yesterday. The Arubathu- moovar (63 saints) festival is taking place today.

Adam, the head coachman at government house, Madras in 1910.

On all 10 days of this festival, Vinaayakar, Kapaleeswarar, Karpagambal, Murugar with Valli Deivayaanai and Chandikes- warar (Ainthirumenigal - 5 deities) are taken in procession around the 4 Maada veedhis on different vaahanams / vehicles, on pallakkus, palanquins, chariots, etc. Situated in Mylapore, this is an 8th Century Pallava temple.         The temple 'Gopuram' (tower) is in the characteristic Dravidian style of architecture. Dedicated to Lord Siva, the temple has some beautiful sculptures, among which the bronze idols of 63 Saivaite Saints (Nayanmars) which adorn the outer courtyard are rare specimens.         Also in the courtyard under the old Punnai tree is a small shrine depicting Goddess Parvathi in the form of a peacock ('MAYIL') worshipping Lord Siva. It is from this legend that the name MYLAPORE has been derived. Mylapore swarms with life during the annual Arubathu -moovar festival that is taking place today.         Sir Arthur Lawley, (1860-1932) served as Governor of Madras from 1906 to 1911. Before coming to Madras, he had served as Governor of Western Australia from 1901 to 1902.

Sir Arthur Lawley, Governor of Madras (1906-1911)

        He later worked as Lieutenant Governor of Transvaal from 1902 to 1905.

        The Perth suburb of Mount Lawley in Western Australia is named after him. On 15 October 1885, he married Annie Cunard, a daughter of Sir Edward Cunard.

        Lady Lawley, w/o. Sir Arthur Lawley, was a great social worker interested in the welfare and rehabilitation of the physically handicapped. She was also a talented painter. In 1912, she published a book entitled 'Southern India —Land, People and Culture' which contained watercolour drawings done by Lady Lawley on various sights and scenes of Madras City.

        She painted the Car Festival at the Kapaleeswar Temple, Mylapore in 1910 as she saw it on that day. She went in a horse-drawn Governor's coach driven by one Adam, the then Head Coachman at Government House on Mount Road in Madras. Lady Lawley painted the portrait of Adam as well. News Today takes great pride in publishing these two paintings of Car festival and Adam's Portrait.
 

The car festival at the Kapaaleeswarar temple of Mylapore in 1910 painted by Lady Lawley.

        In her book on South India, Lady Lawley observed: 'India is a land of contrasts. They are not far to seek. They stand out with startling vividness side by side in the streets of every large town. Poverty and wealth, squalor and splendour, the twice-born Brahmin and the despised outcaste move together in the broad highway, never touching each other as they pass, nor mingling their lives. Poverty devoid of pride humbly steps aside, holding out the suppliant hand as splendour, mounted on an elephant or Arab horse, rides by'.

        There is no greater contrast than that which is experienced on leaving the gates of Government House on Mount Road in Madras in a chariot driven by Head Coachman Adam.

        The change is felt not only in the scene but also moral atmosphere. The park in which the Government House stands with its deer, its flowers and shrubs, its peaceful retirement is exchanged at the very gateway itself for a wide dusty street called Mount Road full of life and noise.