Photos of honour given to cobblers in Srirangam temple.

These huge chappals are made by cobblers from a nearby village of Srirangam for the sacred feet of presiding deity Sri ranganathar.This is a ancient custom .The cobblers keep 4o days of strict penance and then make these fleets for the main deity  after getting a vision of the size of Ranganathars feet.once in every year. and take it in procession in the  temple festival of Sri ranganathar conducted every April .They carry it on their tonsured heads ,break coconuts on their heads and lay their offering before the processional deity with utmost reverence.This offering is skipped on the years these cobblers do not get the vision of the size.meaning thereby that they have not performed their penances properly.These sandals are then kept in percinicnts of the temple on the .outside of the sannidhis.It is kept outside a hall that has painting of SRI Ranganathar ,near his feet  This is a honour bestowed upon them by the temple  in recognition of their devotion caption