Amma extends cordial invitation to all North American devotees to come to Melmaruvathur and participate in the Irumudi (Tamil for bag with two sections, two knots) Pilgrimage and Thai Poosam Festival. The season of pilgrimage goes from December 22 2001 to January 27 2002, culminating in the Thai Poosam Festival. People undertaking the pilgrimage may go the Temple any time within this period.

Pilgrimage Items	Preparation for Pilgrimage

The Irumudi pilgrimage and fast can be 1, 3 or 5 days, as your schedule permits. Amma has made it very simple for all of us to be able to do this. Each person carrying the Irumudi bag should first go to a mandram pooja near their home and this sponsoring mandram will give you a necklace of red beads (malai) and the Irumudi bag to wear during the pilgrimage to Melmaruvathur. During the pilgrimage you may eat two regular meals a day and replace the third with fruit and milk. Wear red whenever possible and sleep on red sheets/quilts. A person traveling to India for the pilgrimage may take the Sakthi Malai necklace and bag for any members of their family who can not make the trip themselves.

Emptying Bags

Important note: Amma has said that anyone with dietary/health restrictions should not fast and should not feel that their pilgrimage is less in any way.

Lansdale Sakthi Mandram has all of the Irumudi items that are needed for the pilgrimage. The items are listed below. The ones if the left column can be brought from the US. The other items should be obtained in India. These item can be mailed to you or picked up at Lansdale Mandram.

Last updated on Wed Jan 20 2010 at 9:59:03pm