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{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
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[[File:Thevar Jayanthi in Madurai, 2007.jpg|thumb|200px|Garlanding Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar's statue in [[Madurai]] during the 2007 Thevar Jayanthi centenary]]'''''Thevar Jayanthi''''', celebrated on 30 October, is an annual commemoration of the birthday of [[U. Muthuramalingam Thevar|Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar]]. It is celebrated in a grand way by the [[Thevar]] community in the southern districts of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/oct/28tn1.htm |title=Security beefed up in Madurai for Thevar Jayanthi |publisher=[[Rediff.com]] |date=28 October 1998 |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref> Although not an official public holiday, many schools and businesses in the area remain closed on the day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103105270300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126003621/http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103105270300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 November 2011 |title=Thevar jayanthi processions peaceful |date=31 October 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/31/stories/2005103116560300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105033213/http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/31/stories/2005103116560300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Thevar jayanthi processions pass off peacefully |date=31 October 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/31/stories/2007103159910300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031145558/http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/31/stories/2007103159910300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 October 2007 |title=Thevar jayanthi processions peaceful |date=31 October 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref>

==Thevar's legacy==
Whilst having been active in politics, it is mainly the spiritual discourse of Thevar that explains his following after his death. Also, the fact that his date of birth and death lie some close to each other has been interpreted as a sign of supernatural powers.<ref name="s"/>

==Thevar Shrine==
One of the main events on Thevar Jayanthi takes place at the ''samadhi'' (burial place) of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar, located at some 50 miles distance from [[Madurai]]. Pilgrims gather to take part in the ceremonies at the ''samadhi'' on 30 October. In later years the ceremony at the ''samadhi'' has begun to attract prominent politicians.<ref name="s">Robinson, Rowena. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2cIOqGcvHqoC&pg=PA167 Sociology of Religion in India]''. New Delhi [u.a.]: SAGE, 2004. pp. 165-168</ref>

==Political controversy==
The [[All India Forward Bloc]], the [[political party]] to which Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar belonged, has demanded that Thevar Jayanthi be declared a public holiday in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=710090655&cat=&n_date=20071009 |title=Mid term polls linked to Cong stand on US nuke pact: AIFB|publisher=webindia123.com |date=9 October 2007 |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref>

The event is not entirely uncontroversial. The [[CPI(ML) Liberation]] has charged that the Tamil Nadu government should stop sponsoring Thevar Jayanthi celebrations, claiming that the event is utilised by [[caste]]ist forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_2009/jan_09/reports.html |title=Kerala : Land Reforms Undone |publisher=[[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation]]|date= |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref>

==2007 centenary celebrations==
On 30 October 2007, the birth centenary of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar was celebrated. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister [[M. Karunanidhi]] took part in the celebrations in [[Pasumpon]] village.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2007/10/30/karunanidhi-jaya-pay-floral-tributes-to-muthuramalinga-thevar-1193737346.html |title=Karunanidhi, Jaya pay floral tributes to Muthuramalinga Thevar|publisher=[[Oneindia.in]]|date=30 October 2007 |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref> This was the first time in two decades that Karunanidhi participated in Thevar Jayanthi.<ref name="ind"/> At the celebrations, Karunanidhi suggested that [[Madurai Airport]] be renamed after Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar. These moves were seen as an attempt by Karunanidhi's [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) party to challenge the supremacy of the rival [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) over the Thevar community. The AIADMK leader [[J. Jayalalitha]] criticised Karunanidhi's participation in the Thevar Jayanthi centenary programme, stating that he did not believe in Thevar's ideas. Moreover, she claimed that her previous government had allocated 30 million [[Indian rupee|rupees]] for the Thevar Jayanthi centenary, but that Karunanidhi's government had spent only five million rupees.<ref name="ind">{{cite web|url=http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1732/48/ |title=New Icon, Old Wounds |publisher=All India Christian Council|date=23 November 2007 |accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Social events]]
[[Category:Organized events]]
[[Category:Unofficial observances]]
[[Category:Politics of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:October observances]]

Thevar Jayanthi - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 3 archive links; reformat 3 links. Wayback Medic 2.5