Pathayathirai.org -  Thaipoosa Walk

Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization. Tax Id: 82-4014726

Mission
Our organization's goal is to conduct a walk / hike to bring the community together on a healthy note educating the importance of Nature, Spirit and Health. One of the signature events is the 20 miles Thaipoosa pathayathirai (walk) where thousands of walkers join annually.
Our vision is to promote healthy living and enjoy nature by utilizing the open space around us blended with diverse cultures

Subscribe to newsletter
1. send email to: Pathayathirai+subscribe@googlegroups.com
2. Confirm the subscription by reply to the email received back
3. Whatsapp - for announcement: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FUUrY6rzVBP4UlM8CuIFJp

Upcoming Events:
When is the next Thaipoosam?
2024 Thaipoosam in Bay area falls from Wednesday, January 6.47PM to Thursday 9.53PM for Bay area location.

As announced previosuly, our Walk/Hike is on

Saturday, January 20th, 2024.

Our 14th year Annual event is coming up soon, stay tuned to experience the traditional Pathayathirai a spiritual walk-a-thon recreating the Palani walk experience summiting the hill locally in our open space rolling hills of San Ramon with annadhana lunch.
Our goal is to accommodate as much as possible this year to provide a wonderful experience for our patrons.

Walk registration is required for the participation.
Near Central Park ~19 miles
Rancho Park ~11 miles
Dougherty ~9 miles

Please carefully follow the signs, updated map & volunteer directions.

Roundtrip 11 Miles Walk - From Rancho Park - 1998 RANCHO PARK LOOP ROAD SAN RAMON, CA 94582
Additional Parking available at DVC/Community Center
Please bring electronic/paper copy of registration.
Check your mail(spam folder) for time to report at starting point
If you haven't received one, please report by 9.15AM
Check-in booth in front of community center in the parking lot
Come around 10 AM no later than 10.30 AM to start walking from this station.

Roundtrip 19 miles walk - From opposite to central park Bishop Ranch 1, San Ramon, CA 94583
Please bring electronic/paper copy of registration.
Check your mail (spam folder) for time to report at starting point
If you haven't received one, please report by 8.15AM
Check-in station is near Iron horse trail
Certain area are fenced for constructions, you can park where it is available
Come by 9 AM to start walking from this station.

Volunteer Registration: https://forms.gle/vf4uYDjEqsk6KB4g8

Volunteers, please contact your lead. If you do not have a leader, please report at either one of the above mentioned locations.

Thanks to all volunteers, patrons and donors for the support our events.
Please prepare yourself according to weather ( layered clothes, shoes, panchos).
Please bring your ponchos, raincoat, beanie...
We are going green. No water bottle will be served. Please bring your own water bottles for the refill.
Contra costa county Winter Walk Challenge ... win prizes

Thaipoosam celebrations at Velmont Hills: Kavadi Pooja and processions. 2024 Paalkudam & Kavadi Registration is closed now

2024 Paalkudam Registration

2024 Kavadi Registration

Kaavadi and Paalkudams procession to hill will be around 10.30AM from velMont Foothill (Adivaaram)
All items for paalkudam & kaavadi will be provided by organizers
Please come in traditional attire according to weather conditions (Shoes OK).
Vratham is recommended for participants.
Kaavadi & Paalkudam takers should come 30 minutes early to prepare the paalkudam/Kaavadi.
Limited Paalkudam and Kaavadi is available. As a token to confirm the paalkudam/Kaavadi registration, please donate minimum of $21 to cover the cost.

Walk Routes
Changes in the map has been updated (Jan 18th).
Yellow Mark - Restroom/Porta potties
Green Mark - Breakfast/Lunch/Snack Station
Red Mark - Summit/Adivaaram/Starting points
Pink Mark - Volunteer spot

Walk directions from Bishop Ranch, Rancho park & Dougherty station to summit

No Changes in the walk starting points or car parking.
Trail routes has been changed due to unsafe trail conditions.

Roundtrip ~9 miles Walk Route from Dougherty Station Community Arts
Please park in DVC parking lot/overflow parking lot.
Please collect your hand band and food tokens when you checkin
Roundtrip ~11 miles Walk Route from Rancho Park
Please collect your hand band and food tokens when you checkin
Roundtrip ~19 miles Walk Route from Bishop Ranch
Checkin location /Starting point
Drive to Bishop Ranch 1 (BR1) next to Chevron Dr & Park your car in the PG&E lot. You can walk across to registration/Check-in Desk.
Please collect your hand band and food tokens when you checkin

Thaipoosam 2022 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98IX22xI4OI
Thaipoosam 2022 Photos:   https://photos.app.goo.gl/eAeyHR3UNZViVHw38
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8rPiugBbeDhWPadA9

Thaipoosa Walk Pathayathirai Invitation

velMont Songs

VelMont Youtube Channel

VelMont Pathigam



Past Events

In continuing the tradition of pathayathra (walk-a-thon) for the last 12 years in SF bay area, we have made arrangements to bring another new experience to our community this summer to walk to Livermore Shiva Vishnu Temple on June 12th (Sunday) in regards to Vaikasi Visakam Celebrations.

Registration is closed - https://forms.gle/8yAX3NfM6rfN3iN66

Starting Location : Shops at Livermore (opposite to Premium Outlet Mall)
3048 W Jack London, Livermore, CA 94551
Trail is behind the See's Candy shop
Walk route: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DQdPwfI1h4Php7q9DvFY7Y3tS2_836F-&usp=sharing
Shuttle service will be there from 11AM for couple of hours from temple to Walk starting point.


Panguni Uthiram Walk Event - March 27th, Sunday
Round trip 10 miles walk/hike event starting from Dougherty station Community center
Registration for the Walk/Hike to VelMont in San Ramon is now open for folks who are interested to join , please use the following link to sign up : https://forms.gle/UtBcj7ja2eEurBJp8, Registration is limited and will be closed once we hit the limit. Our "VelMont Velan" deity along with Holy spear will be present at the summit for us to shower his blessings.
Thaipoosam Walk 1/15/20202
Jan 15th. 2022, Saturday Thaipoosa Pathayathirai , which is signature event. Registration is closed now.

Thaipoosa Pathayathirai (Walk) from San Ramon 12th Year Invitation

Pathayathirai.org Invites you all to the wonderful Thaipoosa walk and immerse in the spiritual, natural, healthy community walk!!
Date : January 15th 2022

Walk to Velmont in San Ramon

'VelMont Velan' our VelMont's presiding Murugan deity will present at the summit along with Ganesha and the Vel (Holy Spear).

Mask is required in indoors; and when you are within 6 feet of other people! If you have symptoms of COVID or exposed to COVID within last 5 days, please stay at home. Events of this scale can’t be done without the help of wonderful volunteers. Thanks to all volunteers. if you can spare a couple of hours that day, please register to help monitor the walk and serve food : https://forms.gle/MTCrDNLmXEWwr7Ej9

We are working very hard to bring in more surprises to recreate the traditional experience, so stay tuned for those details to experience the unique and wonderful experience this event is going to bring in!!. Not an exaggeration, we are sure this event is going to remind many of you of an experience which you get only in India; the famous ‘Palani Patha Yathirai’ summiting the hilltop to pray to the almighty.


Religious Events by velMont 1/15/2022

velmont.org coming soon

Kaavadi & PaalKudam Registration emails were sent around mid-December for registered people. Kaavadi and Paalkudam procession to hill will be around 10.30AM from velMont Foothill (Adivaaram).

Nov 6th, 2021, Saturday Shasti walk/hike to VelMont in San Ramon
Registration for the Shasti Walk/Hike to VelMont is now closed. :
 https://forms.gle/Q6rEu8VHSHvERhXt9

Detailed email about the walk has been sent out to the registered folks, please check the spam folder. If you have already registered and missed the email , come to the starting point at 17011 Bollinger Canyon Road at 8:15am Registration is a MUST to participate
Glimpses of the 2021 Shasti event https://youtu.be/B4wjX9LH0EA. & Photos
FYI, participants will reach back to the starting point at the end of the walk. no transportation required. Weather will be cloudy to start and clear up , so dress up accordingly. It is a round trip of 9 miles.
COVID-19 Prayer & Vaikasi Visakam walk/hike in San Ramon VelMont
Date: May 30th, 2021, Sunday
Limitation: 150 Registrants with social distance and COVID protocol

With the current surge in COVID cases in India and other places, we plan to organize a hike-a-thon in San Ramon to pray the nature and almighty for the wellbeing of all those impacted around the world and normalcy to return soon.

This walk will be approximately 9 miles with an elevation gain of 600ft reaching a height of about 900ft, there will be a holy spear (Vel) placed at the hilltop arranged by friends of pathayathirai.org for prayer.

Entire Event is organized outdoors and registration for the walk is limited to first 150 , it is mandatory that everyone follow social distancing, CDC guidelines and all recommended guidelines by government local, state and federal during the entire walk.



Notes
Happy Thaipoosam 🙏 குன்று இருக்கும் இடமெல்லாம் குமரன் இருக்கும் இடம்! அரோகரா! Lord Muruga அரோகரா!
On behalf of www.pathayathirai.org we prayed the nature and almighty for the wellbeing of all and normalcy to return soon, looking forward to conduct yathra like in the past 12 years!!
அரோகரா 🙏 அரோகரா 🙏

Looking forward 2022 for Pathayathirai!

Social walk with friends and family for Thaipoosam on Iron horse trail from San Ramon central park.

Thaipoosam is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February).The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon.

Belief is that devote a physical burden through which implore for help from the God Murugan! take a vow to offer to god for the purpose of tiding over or averting a great calamity. We are happy that, we could bring amazing experience to people in this area from the year 2011.


Registration is a MUST to participate in this walk as per permit.

We are not responsible for any other (walk) messages floating around.

This event is brought to you by passionate volunteers and generous sponsors like you to bring the tradition here locally.



Comments

Indeed! A beautiful hike in a lush emerald green ! 
Thoroughly enjoyed the hike/walk/vazhai illai lunch with the group! 
Felt like hiking to Palani Murugan Kovil! 
Dedicated team work for bringing this experience at our home place 


Thank you for organizing, yet another successful Thaipoosam padha yaathirai to Velmont.

Great experience worshipping new deities Sri Velmont Velan and Vinayagar! 

Thank you for bringing the prasadhams, straight from Palani with a picture of Sri Velmont Velan. 

Moments from today! 

https://youtu.be/8_Ed3gvH6x0

Great Effort🙌
God Bless all!!!

 
Well organized and executed. Kudos to the organizers and all the volunteers.
If possible, publish the volunteer list and their efforts.

Vanakkam!

I would like to share a wonderful experience by a Portuguese women (I’m not sure if I have mentioned the correct country)

Here is the details 
Note she requested not to mention her name but asked me to share her experience in our group.

I was volunteering in Walden park and suddenly around 2:00PM a women approached me and was complementing 
how well we have organized this whole event. When I thanked her she continued to share her experience, 
seems like she was doing her usual walk and saw many of us, due to her interest to different culture 
she had reached out to a group and enquired more details.

This group of people (not sure who 😊) not only explained but also encouraged to walk with them 
She happily did walk all the way to temple had good Darshan and got the prasadam too 

She is now saying going forward she would like to walk every year 

This really made my day and felt blessed 
 

Hats off to all the volunteers. There are no words...Very well
Organized all the way to temple. Super delicious food. So much hard work by all of you. 
My sincere thanks for the great work and bringing the community together.

Arohara! 

அருமையான 👌 அனுபவம். 
பங்களித்த / ஏற்பாடு செய்த அனைவருக்கும் மிக்க நன்றி 🙏 
மிக அருமையான வானிலையும் கூட !
மீண்டும் அடுத்த வருடம் சந்திக்கும் வரை நன்றி 🙏 




Disclaimer
You are participating in the walk on your own interest and you are responsible for your own act. No one from or other organization or volunteers or other facilitators should be held liable for anything. This event is facilitated by passionate volunteers.

Participant Agreement: You understand and agree that this walk event will test physical and mental limits and there is the possibility that you may suffer property loss, serious injury or life loss. This could be caused by the natural conditions, terrain, facilities, trail conditions and/or traffic on the roads and trails. This could also be caused by the actions of other people include in but not limited to participants, volunteers, spectators, event organizers, course monitors, or Park District employees, or city employees or other organization officials or volunteers or transport agents.

Keywords: VelMont Thaipoosam or Thaipusam or Thaipusa Walk, pathyathirai, padayatra from San Ramon Central park