We begin a new phase today and all attention is centered on the gold-leaf work at Iraivan. This morning at exactly 8 am, Bodhinatha applied the first piece of gold leaf to the end of the Rajagopuram.
Deva Rajan is on hand to help watch over the project. Here he talks to Yoginathaswami about some details of the work in progress.
The primer is has been put on
The work begins with the Rajagopuram. Sizing… a kind of special varnish, is applied.
Tandu Sivanathan and a young member of his family are present to watch.
Bodhinatha arrives.
Breaking the coconut.
He applies the first piece of gold.
A joyful moment and the culmination of several years of planning and fund raising for which we thank all the donors!
This gold will be tapped down more firmly after the sizing dries a bit more.