Several villages in Theni offered prayers to Pennycuick and took out processions holding his portraits on Sunday to mark his birth anniversary. A large number of villagers from Thambinayakanpatti, Lakshminayakkanpatti, Kombai, Pannaipuram in Thevaram assembled at V O C Grounds on Sunday morning and prepared pongal in 999 pots. The dish was placed in front of a portrait of Pennycuick, as an offering before the villagers broke into celebrations.
At Palarpatti near Bodi, "Thevarattam" - a folk dance - marked the beginning of the celebrations. After watching an enthralling performance, the villagers took out a procession with a huge portrait of the royal engineer from the main road to the "Pennycuick mandapam," a community hall, where they offered prayers to him.
After preparing pongal in front of the mandapam, the villagers set out to watch a cock fight organised as part of the celebrations. Later in the day, a debate titled "Which is stronger? - Pennycuick's determination or Mullaiperiyar dam?" was held at Palarpatti.
Palarpatti was one of the foremost among the villages in Theni district that recognised the contribution of Pennycuick and started celebrating his birth anniversary in a grand manner. "This is the 13th year that we are celebrating his birth anniversary. This year, we wanted to celebrate it in a grand manner," said C Andi.
In various other villages like Kulayanur, Kamayagoundanpatti, Surulipatti, Narayanathevanpatti and Kulappagoundaptti too, villagers paid tribute to Pennycuick.
At the state public works department office in Uthamapalayam, the bust of Pennycuick was adorned with garlands and pongal was prepared in front of it. Villagers, irrespective of political affiliations joined hands to honour the royal engineer.
Employees and former employees of the public works department also joined the villagers in celebrating the birth anniversary. At Uthupatti village near Chinnamanur, "milk abishekam" was performed to Pennycuick.
