The annual temple festival of Kaddachery village was just one month away and things weren’t looking good. The biggest event of the village looked uncertain for the first time in decades. The bridge had given away and the rath for the deity’s procession had to be brought from the town. Engineers from Trivandrum had expressed their inability to get the bridge ready in time for the auspicious fair day.
Meanwhile people from nearby villages had started coming to Kaddachery with hopes that the giant rath would be moved into the village on time. The village headman, panchayat members and the temple board members were all engaged in the matter and their stand was expected to be made public in another couple of days.
“Yes I think that’s the only solution” the village headman remarked, “We have to postpone the fair by another month. So in two months time we can comfortably get the bridge repaired or we can even bring the rath through the other route via Ponmalla”.
“The fair had always been held on this particular day for over a century”, the president of the temple board maintained.
“But there is no other alternative, the rath cannot be brought into the village in time for the fair”, a panchayat member said.
The temple priest stood still, listening to them with faint hope that the rath would still be moved on time and the fair held as usual.
“So either we have to postpone the fair or cancel it”, another panchayat member said.
The priest’s eyes got filled, for never in his twenty five years of service to the temple, had he heard the word ‘cancel’ in relation to the fair.
“I’ll announce the postponement tomorrow”, the headman told them all.
The priest thought for a while, then addressed them, a little sadly; “If that’s the will of the mother, so shall it be”.
The next day the village drum beater was announcing the postponement by the riverside, when a ferry crossed over. In it were people coming from town, to attend the fair. Among them was a tall, bearded man who immediately gave vent to his frustration; “But that’s ridiculous, I’ll talk to them”.
The next day the bearded man approached the village headman and introduced himself, “I am Balakrishna Menon, professor of structural engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras. Kaddachery is my native place and I am a regular visitor to the village festival. I don’t understand why the fair has to be postponed just because of the bridge. I’ve seen the rath on my way through the town. I’ll like to be given a chance; I’m sure that I’ll bring the rath across the river in time for the fair”.
“It’s impossible. We’ve already consulted all senior engineers”; the headman replied; “But if you want to try, please go ahead”.
News of Balakrishna Menon’s effort spread throughout the village. Volunteers thronged in hundreds. Menon executed the project with great care and precaution. People worked day and night in turns. Menon was always there at the site, where he had made a temporary tent for himself.
A massive raft was made, right under the bridge, from which it was partially supported. Two concrete platforms were made on either side of the river, close to the bridge. The raft was planned to carry the rath between these two platforms.
Meanwhile the rath had been instructed to reach the village along its usual route. On the fifteenth day of the project, the work was completed and the raft tested.
The next day the rath reached the river side. The headman, members of the temple board and panchayat were among those present to witness the rath move across the river. A huge crowd had gathered on both sides of the river. A puja was conducted and as the priest recited the prayers, the rath was slowly moved onto the platform. It was then to be transferred on to the raft.
Balakrishna Menon was continuously giving instructions and a few were regulating the crowd around the rath. The priest continued his chanting in a raised voice as he watched the rath roll onto the raft, which took it comfortably. Menon was happy; everything was going well, as planned. The raft was then pulled towards the other platform across the river.
The rath had reached about ten days before the festival day. There was shouting and dancing everywhere, together with praises for Balakrishna Menon. The village headman was the first to congratulate him followed by the temple and panchayat members. The priest smiled at Balakrishna, applied vermilion on his forehead and said, “If that’s the will of the mother, so shall it be”.
With a week to go for the fair, posters and notices thanking Balakrishna Menon had sprung up all over the village. The temple board which met after the roll-over of the rath, decided to make Balakrishna Menon, the co-patron of the temple. The panchayat welcomed and declared the headman’s intentions of giving Balakrishna Menon the privilege of addressing the village at the closing ceremony of the fair.
Balakrishna Menon was the most sought person and was noticed wherever he went. Gifts and appreciations never seemed to end. “Of course, his name would be associated with the temple’s history”, the president of the temple board would say, whenever he talked of Balakrishna Menon.
The fair preparations went on in full swing like never before. The village was colorfully decorated; music and songs blared through speakers at almost every street. Many new shops had come up, particularly around the temple. Only two days were left for the fair, when suddenly the tragedy struck.
The bronze idol of the goddess was missing. The priest had come in the morning as usual and noticed the main door lying open. Similarly the second door was open too and the idol missing on the pedestal.
News of the theft was flashed all over the state and police headquarters in all surrounding districts were alerted. All roads leading from Kaddachery were sealed by the police. The police also took over the temple and investigations began. People meanwhile prayed for the deity’s return in time for the fair. The day passed off with very little hope. Police claimed to have collected three sets of handprints and were nearing a breakthrough. The festival spirit was slowly dying in the village.
The next day, a local daily reported that the idol was on its way to either London or Rome, while another reported that the idol was hidden in a container that had already left the Madras port. The headman, panchayat and temple board members, who were all very active, seemed to have lost their ground. The village wore a dull and feared look.
It was the fair day and the village was mourning. The temple fair had been missed for the first time and its future was uncertain. There were very little people on the streets and a near silence prevailed everywhere. Balakrishna Menon stood by the temple gate, all alone. He read a notice on the wall, praising him for bringing the rath into the village, and then looked at the bare pedestal before him. He broke down and wept, when he heard a familiar voice behind him, “If that’s the will of the mother, so shall it be”.
