Festival in the temple is for eight Days. Though festival is only for eight days it will extend for another two days, which is not found In other temples.
In almost all the temples in Kerala there is a system of offering paddy to the Temple, which is normally offered in a measure called Para. On the eighth day called Aarattu.
The deity is taken on procession to the riverside for bathing. After that the deity will be taken On an elephant as procession. At that time the villagers will offer Para from the riverside to the temple.
It is a wonderful scene worth seeing- the offerings to the Goddess standing in an array. Other offerings called Anpoli comprising of flat rice, puffed rice, jaggery, rice and plantain are Also done.
On the two sides of the procession we can see girls of all ages, spinisters and married women Standing with a lamp in their hands wearing neat clothes.
While devi is taken on a procession to the temple accompanied on both sides with ladies holding Kolvilakku, to an onlooker it will seem that she is wearing garland of light which indeed is a beautiful scene worth seeing. As in Sabarimala, here also people will carry Irumudi and Ghee and visit the temple.
On all the Forty one days of Vrichika Vradha, here people will throng from all places via boat, or country Boats or by walk wearing kavi vasthra and mala observing vradha by not eating non vegetaian food on all the days.
They carry with them turmeric powder and coconut filled with ghee and do the abisheka and return home. It is believed that the Maladevatha is residing in the eastern corner of the main temple.
People do abhisheka with ghee, milk, scented water, sandalwood paste, tender Coconuts, and panchamirtham. Devotees from Kannady, Pulinkunnoo, Punnaakulathucheri, Thekkekara, Nattayam, Chathurthyakary and Kottabagam are doing the above worship every year.
People from far places have also started doing the worship. With all sincerity they will call DEVI SARANAM and reach the temple with Irumudi.
Ulsava flag will be hoisted on the day of Vishu in this temple.
As in other devi kshetras, here also there is a ritual called Kalamezhuthu and paattum. From the 1st of Vrichigam to 11th of dhanu ie the 41 days of mandala period Kalamezhuthu and Pattu is done here. The above ritual is being conducted by Mattakkattu Kuruppans under whose responsibility the above vazhipadu is done.
Before the ulsavam there is one more ritual called padayani which will start on the 25th day of meenam.It reminds us of the methods of war in olden days.
Soon after the athaza pooja the oldest member of the four renowned families from Kizhakkunnam, Irethara,Thayyil and Alungal will light a dried leaves from the coconut tree called Choottu and come around the temple three times dancing and chanting and singing with a group of people.It is called choottu padayani. There is one more padayani called Thappum padayani.
|
