MLA organises moi virunthu, collects Rs 10 crore

TIRUCHY: The moi virunthu feast was long over but the bank officials and security guards had to burn the midnight oil to finish counting the money that was collected at the event organised by the MLA of Peravurani. When the cash counting machines finally stopped in the early hours of Wednesday, the collection stood at a whopping Rs 10 crore.

Moi virunthu is a form of crowdfunding feast popular across the central region – especially in Pudukkottai and Thanjavur – during the Tamil months of Aadi and Avani. However, it was suspended in the region for a few years due to the destruction wreaked by Gaja cyclone followed by the pandemic. As the situation normalised, people resumed organising the function in Aadi month.

One such event was organised by Peravurani MLA N Ashok Kumar of the DMK on Tuesday, where the feast and also ear-piercing ceremony for his grandchildren were held together.

So grand was the function that the staggering numbers tell the tale: around 15,000 guests took part in the feast for which 500 cooks prepared 1,500 kg mutton that was served with rice. There were 40 counters and the entire venue was brought under CCTV surveillance and guarded by private security guards.

The gifts presented by those who took part in the feast ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5 lakh. Later in the evening, bank officials carrying counting machines reached the venue. Despite working non-stop, it took them time till around daybreak on Wednesday to finish counting. People close to the MLA claimed that the Rs 10 crore collection was the highest collected for moi virunthu organised by an individual.

Moi virunthu, the traditional crowdfunding:

Moi virunthu is a traditional form of crowdfunding to help those who have fallen in bad times financially. A group of such persons would jointly organise a feast for friends and family, who would give her/him money after having the meal. As per custom, a person is allowed to hold the function only once in five years.

But over the past decade or so, it has evolved into an annual feature where families take turns to organise the feast and raise money. This is also called interest-free loan, as the host is expected to pay up similarly when the guests organise the event.

The tradition continues to remain popular in the central region. However, unlike earlier days when it had to be organised by a group of persons, a few make it an individual affair as a public of their family status.