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| Fairs and Festivals |
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Onam-The
National Festival of Kerala | Vishu
| Navarathri | Mahasivarathri | Makaravillakku
at Sabarimala
| Thrikarthika
| Thiruvathira
| Christmas
| Easter | Ramadan
| Eid-Ul-Fitr
| Eid-Ul-Zuha | Milad-Ul-Nabi | Muharram | Gramam(Village Fair) | The Great Elephant
March | Nishagandhi
Dance Festivals | Flavour
Food Festival | Attukal Pongala
| Vetta and Arattu
| Sarkara Devi Temple,
Chirayinkeezhu | Sree
Subramanya Swamy Temple, Ulloor | Aruvippuram
Siva Temple, Aruvippuram | Thiruvambadi
Sree Krishna Temple | Christ
the King Church | Beemapalli,
Trivandrum |
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| Makaravillakku at
Sabarimala |
For centuries, Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta
has been a major pilgrim centre attracting lakhs
of devotees from all over India, more so from
southern States. The presiding deity is Lord Ayyappa
known as Dharma Sastha, a considered symbol of
unity between Vaishnavites and Saivites. Darma
Sastha is believed to have fulfilled his mission
in life and rejoined his Supreme Self, enshrined
at Sabarimala. |
The
temple is tucked away in the mountain
ranges of the Western Ghats and can
be reached only by foot. Pilgrims have
to traipse through the narrow tracks
in thick forests infested with
wild animals.
Pilgrims
to Sabarimala is seasonal (November
to January). Those wishing to perform
pilgrimage have to undergo forty-one
day’s penance consisting of strict
celibacy, daily ablutions and daily
prayers.
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Early mornings and evenings in the festival season Kerala
villagers will be reverberating with dedication
calls of Ayyappa devotees. The festival mood
reaches its crescendo on Makara Vilaku day( January
14, the most important day in the festival). The
day synch with the day of Sankramom (crossing
of the sun from Dhakshinayana to the Uttarayana). |
On the said day, lakhs of pilgrims( each one called an Ayyappa),
flock the shrine for worship. On that evening
they descry Makara Vilakku, appearance of a strange
light in the distant hill indicating the presence
of God and return ennobled and strengthened in
spirit. |
Situated not far from the is a shrine in the name of Vavar,
a Muslim, who was thought to be a close aide
of Sri Ayyappa. It is a rare experience to see
the Hindu devotees worshipping at the shrine of
Vavar indicating the communal harmony in
Kerala. |
| Thrikarthika |
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Thrikarthika
is another festival which is celebrated in the
month of Vrichikom (November-December). Display
of lights in the evening is an important part
of the festival Deepavali , the festival of light
is celebrated by the display of fire works and
bursting of crackers. The
41 day of Mandalam season beginning with the first
day of the month of Vrischikom (November-December)
is sacred to the Hindus. The 41st day which coincides
with the Makaravilakku in Sabrimala is the concluding
day of the festival. The observance of certain
vrathams of fasts is resorted to which the Hindu
consider sacred to certain deities. The most important
of these is Ekadasi considered sacred to Vishnu.
At the Sri Krishna Temple, Guruvayoor, the Great
Eakadasi festival is held annually for five days
in the month of Vrischikom (November- December).
Sashti the sixth day is sacred to Subramanya and
Pradosham the thirteenth day to Shiva. Devotees
spend these days in fasting and devotional excercises.
Full moon is also observed as a day of fast. The
New Moon days in Makaram (January-February) and
Karkatakam (July-August) are particularly important
for the performance of Sradha. Karkataka Vavu
is almost like a festival day in Trivandrum . |
| Thiruvathira |
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The festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira
in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January).
On thiruvathira morning, devotees throng Shiva
temples for an early worship which is reckoned
as highly auspicious.
Tradition says thiruvathira is celebrating the
death of Kamadeva, the mythological God of Love.
According to another version, Thiruvathira is
the birthday of Lord Shiva. The festival has similarities
to adra darshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu. |
On
the festival day, women discard rice
meal, but only take preparations of
chama (panicum miliaceum) or wheat.
The day's menu include plantain fruits
and tender coconuts. They chew betel
and redden their lips. A custom that
women should chew 108 betel on the day
had prevailed among Namboodiris,
Ambalavasis (temple-servants) and Nairs
( all Hindu communities). The first
thiruvathira after the marriage of a
girl is known as puthenthiruvathira
or poothiruvathira |
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( new thiruvathira).Oonjalattom, (swinging on an oonjal (swing)
is another amusement women engage themselves with.
During the chilly night, women keep vigil
for God Shiva and stage Thiruvathirakali, a bewitching
dance form. |
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Pretty girls in traditional attire circle around a
lighted brass lamp, and step to the rhythm of
the songs they sing, clapping their hands. |
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Pathirappoochoodal,( wearing of flowers at midnight)
is still prevalent among women belonging to Namboodiri,
Ambalavasis (temple servants) and Nair communities. |
That
thiruvathira is still being celebrated with pomp
vouch for the enviable position Kerala women enjoyed
in the society. The status she occupied at home
and in the society had influenced the state's
social structure, customs and religious practices. |
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