The Sri Swarna Vinayakar Temple Auto stand is like any other in the city. Except for one day. On Vinayakar Chathurthi, it dons an unusually festive look. The auto stand, located right outside a small temple on Nungambakkam High Road, organises a special programme on the day.
They have been doing this for the last 12 years, the auto drivers of the stand have been organising a special programme on the occasion.
We perform a puja in the morning and do annadhanam (distribution of free food), from 12 noon onwards,” says S. Veeraraghavan, an auto driver.The members start their preparations well in advance. They collect donations and accordingly plan the event. “We hire a chef to cook food for at least 200 people. Since we are organising it for years, many people in the neighbourhood are aware of it and come in large numbers. We ensure that we have enough food for everyone. If the donation is not enough, we shell out money from our pocket,” he adds. Not just the auto drivers, even their families are actively involved in the activities. “People often think auto drivers only know how to fleece money from commuters, but we are also good people. We look forward to this day as we get to feed many homeless people,” says K. Parthasartahy.
