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MANNARSALA
UTSAVAM
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In olden times 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 .
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THRISSUR
POORAM
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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 from 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 marvellous as well as magical
effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination
of five percussion and wind instruments, is
to be felt and enjoyed .
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SABARIMALA
SHRINE
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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
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