Temple festivals
Guruvayoor Festivals
Once of the famous temples in India, Guruvayoor is situated in
an out-of-the way village in Chavakkad taluk, though it draws a
vast concourse of pilgrims from every part of the country. Devotees
are thronging to this temple not to see and appreciate the variety
of its structural patterns or to revel in the festivals celebrated
there, but only to feel the air of benediction that pervades this
famous shrine of Guruvayoorappan and to invoke his blessings.
The important religious festivals celebrated in this temple are:
1. Ashtami Rohini in Chingom (August - September)
2. Sukla Paksha Ekadasi in Vrischikom (November-December)
3. Kuchela Day in Dhanu (December-January) the day on which Kuchela
visited Sree Krishna with beaten rice.
4. Dhwaja Prathishta day (Erection of flag staff in the temple)
on Makayiram Asterism in Makaram (January- February).
5. Vishukkani in Medam (April)
6. The ten days Utsavam commencing from Pooyam Asterism in Kumbhom
(February-March).
Top
Sabarimala Shrine
For many centuries Sabarimala in the south has been an important
pilgrim centre attracting lakhs of devotees from all over India,
especially from the southern states. The presiding deity at Sabarimala
is Lord Ayyappa known as Dharma Sastha, who is considered a symbol
of unity between the Vaishnavites and Saivites, his origin being
traced to a union of Siva and Vishnu under special circumstances.
He is also believed to have fulfilled his mission in life and rejoined
his Supreme Self enshrined at Sabarimala. Some scholars say that
Sastha images seen all over Kerala are those of Lord Budha, but
there are others who dispute this theory.
The temple is situated in the interior of the mountain ranges
of the Western Ghats Sahyadri, and it is inaccessible except on
foot. Pilgrims have to negotiate long shelter of the thick forests
and tall mountains in fested with all sorts of wild animals.
Pilgrimage to Sabarimala cannot be undertaken at all seasons,
because it requires long preparation and fixed timings. A devotee
who wishes to perform the pilgrimage should undergo forty-one days'
Vritham' (penance) consisting of strict celibacy, morning and evening
ablutions, growing of beard and daily prayers. Saranamvili or the
call of dedication and refuge in Lord Ayyappa is an essential part
of the daily worship.
January 14, every year synchronising with the day of Sankramom
(crossing of the sun from Dhakshinayana to Uttarayana) is the most
important festival day of the temple. On the above day , lakhs of
pilgrim each called an Ayyappa (assuming the very name of the Lord)
flock to the shrine for worship. Here they see the Makara Vilakku
the appearance of a spontaneous phenomenon of strange light in the
distance, indicating the presence of god, and return ennobled and
strengthened in spirit. Situated not far from the Sabarimala temple,
there is a shrine in the name of Vavar, a Muslim of great valour,
who was thought to be a close associate of Sri, Ayyappa. It is a
rare feature of the pilgrimage to Sabarimala that the Hindu pilgrim
offer worship at this shrine of Vavar also during their trip, indicating
the communal harmony that prevailed in Kerala for ages. During the
entire pilgrimage, all distinctions of caste and class are forgotten.
Top
Thrissur Pooram
The most colourful temple festival of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram,
attracts large masses of devotees and spectators form all parts
of the State and even outside.
Celebrated in Medom (April-May) it consists of processions of
richly caparisoned elephants from various neigbouring temples to
the Vadakunnatha temple, Thrissur. The most impressions are those
from the Krishna temple at Thiruvambadi and the Devi temple at Paramekkavu,
both situated in the town itself. This festival was introduced by
Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state. The Pooram
festival is also well-known for the magnificent display of fireworks.
It is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions
of Thrissur Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in
making the display of fireworks grander and more colourful. Each
group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants and all
efforts are made by each party to secure the best elephants in South
India and the most artistic parasols, several kind which are raised
on the elephants during the display. The commissioning of elephants
and parasols is done in the utmost secrecy by each party to excel
the other. Commencing in the early hours of the morning, the celebrations
last till the break of dawn, the next day.
Of the rival groups participating in the Pooram, the most important
ones are those from Pramekkavu and Thiruvambadi. At the close of
the Pooram both these groups enter the temple through the western
gate and come out through the southern gate to array themselves,
face to face, one from the round and other form the Municipal Office
road. This spectacle is highly enchanting. Although this grand festival
is known as Thrissur Pooram, it is in fact the conclusion of the
eight -day Utsavam of nine temples.
The procession of the Thiruvambadi Pooram to the grounds of Vadakkunnatha
Temple and back is not only important, but also quite enlivening.
The marvelous as well as magical effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination
of five percussion and wind instruments, is to be felt and enjoyed.
Top
Aranmula Uthrittathi
For ages, Keralites have cherished a reverential attitude to rivers.
When the weather becomes delightfully pleasant and the nature exults
in her full glory, it is the apt time for Keralites to hold the
Jalotsavam (water - carnivals). Boat race is in a way a display
of physical might of the people who forget their differences in
partaking in this sport. In that respect, the boat race is symbolic
of the Jalotsavams in Kerala. The most famous is the Aranmula Snake
Boat Race conducted on the Uthrittathi day of Chingom (August-September).
On Thiruvonam day in Chingom when the national festival of Onam
begins in Kerala, Aranmula, a village in Chengannur taluk, is unusually
cheerful and gay.
The famous snake boat carnival on the Pampa held annually at Aranmula
on the day of Uthrittathi asterism in connection with the Onam festival
is to commemorate the crossing of the river by Lord Krishna on that
day. The deity is supposed to be in all the boats that take part
in the carnival and all of them are expected to arrive at their
destination simultaneously. There is thus no element of competition
in the Aranmula Boat Race as in other regattas held in this district
and elsewhere. The race is not conducted to win any trophy or prize.
The crew regard the occasion as one for rejoicing and merry-making
and cheerfully row up and down the river to the tune of songs. Even
though the festival is of Hindu origin and is associated with the
Parthasarathy Temple, it is an all-community affair and participants
include members of all classes and communities living in and around
Aranmula. The festival is now being organised under the auspices
of the Palli Oda Seva Sangham, a popular organisation of the boat
owners. It constitutes a national festival for the people of Central
Travancore and special boats and buses ply to carry the people to
witness the event. During the races, the banks of the river on either
side, for a distance of about three kilometeres, would be thronged
with millions. In recent years, the festival attracts spectators
from all parts of the country and even from abroad. The Valla sadya
is an important vazhipadu (offering) in the temple on this occasion.
The snake boats at the Aranmula regatta present an enchanting
as well as imposing spectacle. They are of extraordinary shape.
About 100 ft. long, the end of the boat is curving upwards with
the front portion tapering gradually. The rear portion would be
towering to a height of about 20 feet. The boats resemble snakes
with their hoods raised. A 150 - crew including oarsmen, singers
and ruddermen man each boat which is gaily decorated for the occasion.
The occupants carry banners and ornamental umbrellas of silk and
gold. It is doubtful whether there is any other national festival
resplendent with such an aura of spiritual devotion, endearing friendship,
sportsman spirit, majesty and rapturous delight as the Aranmula
boat race. Similar Snake-boat races are organised at Champakkulam
and Paippadu in Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, during the Onam
days.
Top
Arattu at Sree Padmanabha Temple
Aratt festival is the closing ceremony of the ten day festival
in the Lord Padmanabha temple at Thiruvananthapuram. There are two
such festivals every year. One takes place in the Malayalam month
of Thulam (October-November) and the other in Meenam (March-April).
The Arattu is a ceremonial procession of the Lord at the close of
the ten-day-festival. The previous night, there is a procession
called pallivetta inside the fort encircling the temple.
On the day of the Arattu, His Highness the Ex-Maharaja enters
the corridor of the temple, and after some rituals, the procession
takes out through the eastern gate with the accompaniment of nagaswaram,
drum etc. His Highness with sword in hand and escorted by armed
guards, infantry, mounted police, officers etc. leads the procession
to the Sanghumugham beach. A caparisoned elephant goes in front
with drum on its back, that is beaten to indicate that the God is
coming in procession. Six more caparisoned elephants follow. The
procession leaves the temple gate at about 5 PM and takes about
an hour to reach the seashore. As the procession leaves the ramparts
of the fort, a salute of 21 guns is made. On reaching the beach
the ceremonial bath is taken in the sea.
Top
Attukal Ponkala
There is an ancient Bhagavathy temple (Mudipura) at Attukal in
the Kaladi ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. The most
important festival in this temple, generally known as Attukal Ponkala
commences on Bharani day in Kumbhom (February-March) and continues
for nine days. The festival begins with Thottampattu (a song about
Bhagavathi) which goes on during all the nine days. On the ninth
day, several thousands of women assemble in the temple compound
with ponkala pots and the required quantities of rice and other
ingredients for ponkala.
Top
Kuthiyottam and Kettukazhcha In Chettikulangara
Temple
Chettikulangara temple near Kayamkulam is one of the famous Devi
Temples in Kerala. The Bharani Utsavan celebrated in Kumbham (February-March)
in this temple is quite an event to the local people as well as
to those residing in the neighbouring villages.
Ashtami at Vaikom
The Mahadeva Temple at Vaikom is one of the most famous and oldest
Siva temples in Kerala. The utsavam in this temple is celebrated
for twelve days during the dark lunar fortnight of Vrischikam, (November-December)
the Ashtami falling on the last day. During the night on the Ashtami
day the deities of the neighbouring temples will be ceremoniously
brought in procession to this temple. .
Top
Koodalmanickam Utsavam
The ancient and historic Koodalmanickam temple is situated in the
Manavalassery village, about nine kilometres from the Irinjalakuda
railway station. The deity of this temple is Sree Bharatha who is
generally not found consecrated in Kerala temples. This temple is
in the true architectural pattern of Kerala temples. The festival
here is held annually for all days in Medom (April-May) from Utram
to Thiruvonam asterisms.
Mannarsala Utsavam
In olden time every Hindu family in Kerala has a serpent-grove.
Mannarsala, situated to the north-west of Sri.Subramanyaswamy temple,
Haripad, is the seat of the famous temple of Nagaraja (God of Serpents),
the largest of its kind in Kerala . Built in a grove the temple
is reputed for having 30,000 images of snake-Gods.
On the day of Ayilliam asterism in the months of Kanni and Thulam
(September and October), all the serpent idols in the grove and
the temple are taken in procession to the illam (family connected
with the temple) where the offerings of Nurum Palum (rice flour
and milk), Kuruthi (a red liquid made of turmeric and lime) and
cooked rice are made. The oldest female member of the family carries
the idol of the Nagaraja and the procession is conducted with great
pomp and rejoicing.
Top
Thiruvathira
The Thiruvathira festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira in
the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). The origin of the
festival is shrouded in obscurity. The people celebrate this festival
upon age-old tradition and they do it with great joy and respect
for the past. The Ardra Darshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu corresponds
to Thiruvathira of Kerala. It is considered to be high auspicious
to worship Siva and the devotees go to the temple before sunrise
for 'darshan'. Apart from the worship in the Siva temple, there
is very little celebration in the houses. Tradition has it that
Thiruvathira festival is celebrated in commemoration of the death
of Kamadeva, the mythological God of love. According to another
version Thiruvathira is the birth day of Lord Siva.
|
Chat
