 Ezhunallathu |
Maha Shivaratri is one of the most holy days of a Hindu which falls on the 14th Lunar day after the full moon in the Malayalam month of 'Kumbham.' On this day the devotees worship Lord Siva throughout the day and night chanting the Shiva Panchakshari mantra(namah: shivayah) and spend sleepless night. |
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The legend behind Shivaratri relates to the story of 'Palazhimahtanam' in the puranas. The devas and asuras started churning the 'palazhy' to obtain the 'amrithu'. 'Vasuki, the king of snakes was used as a rope and MandaraGiri as churner. As time went by Vasukibecame tired and started vomitting 'Kalakudam' - the deadly poison of the king of the snakes. |
 Oorasala Temple |
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 Karakattom |
As the Kalakudam could destroy the whole universe, the devas prayed to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva appeared and took the the kalakudam in the hands and drank it. Godess Parvathy who saw this suddently held around the neck of Lord Siva so as to avert the percolation of the poison into his body. The devas and Godess Parvathy spent the night sleeless singing hyms and praying for Lord Siva's safety. The poison frozen in Lord's neck and thus acquiring his name Neelakanda. |
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Sivaratri is celebrated to commemorate the selfless action of LordSiva to save the universe. It is believed that the faults of a devotee observing Sivaratri ' vritham' will diffuse. |
 Sambhara Vitharanam |
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 Kavadi Khoshayatra |
Incidentially, in Puliyannoor Temple, Sivarathri is also the Pallivetta day. Hundreds of devotees were seen queuing at 3 o' clock in the early morning for the Nirmalyadarshan. Also a large number of devotees were seen performing 'Sayanapradakshinam' around the temple. |
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The day's programmes started with Bajana by Puliyannoor brothers followed by Puranaparayanam. The Sreebali Ezhunnellippu started at about 8.30 a. m. with 5 decorated elephants. The noticeable thing was the newly polished 'Nettippattams' the three new pairs of Alavattam and Venchamaram and the new colourful umbrellas. Mannargudi brothers with their enchanting 'Nadaswaram' added to the beauty of the Ezhunnellathu. The Panchavadyam team lead by Chennakkattu Damodarakuruppu comprised of eminent artists like Mudiyil Kuttappa Marar, Kshethrakalapeedam Vijayan, Ramachandran and R. L. V. Damodaran Nampoothiri. The artists excellent performance evoked memories of Poorams in North Kerala where the best of Panchavadyam and Chendamelam are seen. |
 Kavadi Khoshayatra by Alunthara |
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 Oottan Thullal |
The Kavadi procession starting from the Arunapuram Oorasala Subramanya Swami Temple reached the 'Alinthara' at about 12 o' clock in the noon. The procession was a colourful one for the eyes with beautifully decorated Kavadis and Karakayattam dancing to the tune of Nadaswaram and Chendamelam. Crowd turned up in thousands filling the whole premises. Kavadi Abhisehkom was performed thereafter. |
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The afternoon programmes included 'Oottan Thullal' by Miss. Saritha Gopinath and 'Seethankan Thullal' by Kalamandalam Janardhanan & party. The 'Kazhchasreebali Ezhunnellippu' starts in the evening. 'Velakali' was performed by Sree Madhava Velakali Sanghom, Chirakkadavu. But the main attraction was the 'Kudamattom' held at the Velakali time, with many colourful combinations of umbrellas being tried out. |
 Ezhunnallippu |
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 Sheethankan Thullal |
After the Ezhunnellippu a dance programme by Bharatheeya Nrithakalalayam, Kottayam under the directions of dancer Chellappan and Bhavani was conducted. The event included classical dance forms performed by the students of the Kalalayam. |
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The Pallivetta started after the Sivarathri pooja. As usual Thonnankeel Ramakrishnan Chettiar and party performed the 'Vettavili'. The Pallivetta Ezhunnellippu ended with a grand fireworks show. |
 Dance |
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