They were dressed in tight clothes suitable for the game, they put on body ornaments, they wore chilambu on their feet, and they put flowers suitable for Murugan like kanni, kadambam, kanthal, kurinji and chevvalari. They stood on the dais, tied to each other by a long flower garland strung with the aforesaid flowers. Some were gracefully carrying beautiful green parrots made of sandalwood and painted in their hands.
After saluting the congregation, they began to sing and dance. They sang songs praising Lord Murugan. They sang the heroic deeds of Murugan. They sang the glory of Vetrivel, who dried up the waters of the ocean, to the Asuras like Soorapadman, Gajamugan etc. When many heavenly maidens came on a fast to marry Muruga, they sang the praises of the son of Shiva who came to Tamil Nadu in the earthly world and married the daughter of a mountaineer who was waiting for grain in the forest. They celebrated Velavan's kindness. Such singing and dancing accompanied the sound of drums and pipes.

"Destroy hunger, thirst and enmity!
May the rain and prosperity increase!

Later, 'Devaralan' and 'Devarati', a man and a woman, came on the stage to dance. They were dressed in blood-stained clothes. They were lighting garlands of crimson red flowers. They used to apply red saffron on their foreheads. Their mouths were also red and blood from chewing betel nut. The eyes were red like pumpkin.

The game started slowly. They danced separately and joined hands. As time goes by, the game becomes more frenetic. Devarathi took up the work that was available on one side of the platform. Devarala tried to snatch it from her hand; Devarati forbade. At the end, Devaralan made a big jump that shook the stage and took a great leap and snatched the work from Devarathi's hand. Devarathi got down from the stage with a frightened expression.

Then, Devaralan stood alone on the platform holding a veal in his hand and dancing wildly. Asuras like Suran fell to ashes. The severed Suran's head sprouted again and again. Velan's ferocity grew more and more. A spark flew from his eye. At last Soorapadman fell dead. Devaralan also put down the handiwork.

Now all other instruments have stopped. Only the sound of the clothes was heard. The priest stood near the platform and beat his clothes furiously. Every atom in Devarala's body trembled. "Sannadam has come," they said softly to each other in the congregation.

For a while, the priest became enraged and looked at Devaralan, who was dancing, and said, "Vela! Muruga! Devasenapati! Ganda! Surasamhara! Blessings to the servants!” He prayed that.

“Don't listen! Let me tell you! Ask for whatever you want!” cried the pilgrim.

“Will it rain? Will it flood? Will the country prosper? Will the thought come true?” asked the priest.

To be continue………………………………………………………………………………