German devotees carry rice to Vallalar Sathya Dharmashalai

A group of devotees from Germany carried sacks of rice on their shoulders and donated them to the Vallalar Sathya Dharmashalai at Vadalur in Cuddalore district, drawing attention ahead of the Thaipusam festival.
The Sathya Dharmashalai was established by Vallalar in 1867, along with the lighting of the sacred, ever-burning Jyoti. The unquenchable flame continues to burn to this day. Through the Dharmashalai, free food is provided round the clock to more than a thousand devotees and members of the public without distinction.
With the Thaipusam festival scheduled to be held at Vadalur on February 1, devotees from various parts of the country and abroad have started arriving to participate in the celebrations. As part of this, a group of devotees from Germany reached Vadalur to witness the festival and visit the Sathya Dharmashalai.
Inspired by Vallalar’s principle that no one should go hungry, the German visitors carried sacks of rice on their shoulders and handed them over to the Dharmashalai administration for use in the annadhanam programme.
The incident of foreign devotees travelling from overseas and personally carrying food grains to support the free feeding service has drawn attention among Vallalar followers and visitors at Vadalur.