KUMARANALLOOR THRIKKARTHIKA UTSAVAM

The Kumaranalloor temple is situated in the Perumbaikad village of Kottayam taluk. Though owned by a few Namboodiri families the temple is held in high esteem by the local people and it's construction is on the pattern of the temples of Tamilnadu.

The important festival of the temple is Thrikkarthika celebrated in the month of Vrischikam (November-December). On the Karthika day it is usual to make a nivedyam (offering) in the precincts of the Udayanapuram and Thrissur Vadakkunnatha temples. The story goes that the Gods in these two temples were greatly charmed by the beauty of the Devi returning after her Karthika bath. They came out of the temples, got over the compound walls, and stood there looking amorously at the seductive figure of the passing Devi, and the temple priest who ran helterskelter in search of the Gods, finally met them on the walls at the southern end of the temples. Thenceforth, during Karthika, puja is performed over the walls of these temples.

KOTTUVALLIKKAVU KUMBHA BHARANI

The Kottuvallikkavu Bhagavathi temple is situated 15 kilometers to the west of the Aluva railway station in the Kottuvally village of Paravur taluk. This temple is said to have been built by Kottaukal Padanayar from Kodungalloor (Cranganore). Even now the people of Kodungallur consider Devi as their fostering-deity and make offerings to her. On the Aswathy day in Kumbham (February-March) the thalappoli procession is taken from Kodungalloor on a grand scale. This is known as Aswathi Tahalappoli. The Kumbha Bharani Utsavam is celebrated here for seven days from Avitday of the Utsavam in the afternoon, a special pooja with a thousand burning wicks known as Aayiramthiri pooja is performed. On all days during the Utsavam Kalam Ezhuthu (Colour drawings with flour) and Pattu will be conducted. For the celebrations in this temple, the priest will carry in procession the sword and the foot-trinkets of Devi preceded by thalapoli performed by a large number of girls. (Girls from lines holding plates filled with flowers, lamps and offerings to God to the accompaniment of musical instruments). Afterwards the devotees depart and during the night the velans perform a special ceremony known as Pathinetsavam, bell-metal vessels, earthenware, mats etc. are offered for sale.

Aayiramthiri pooja thokkam is one of the rituals performed in Bhagavathy temple. On a beam fitted to a wheeled cart men or boys are tied and the cart is taken round the temple to propitiate the goddess.

KURAVILANGAD MOONNU NOMPU

"Now the lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights". (Jonah 1.7) The story of Jonah, who disobeyed the order of the Lord to proceed to Nineveh, with his detention in the belly of fish for three days signifying Christ's resurrection from the dead on the third day, stirs the soul of every believer to its utmost depths.


. St. Mary's Parish at Kuravilangad tried its level best to add splendor to Moonnu Nompu (three-day fast) functions. A forty feet wooden ship, beautifully built with prow, stern, masts and rigging, having on one side an effigy of Jonah being vomited by the fish as per the orders of the Lord, and on the deck wooden mariners in western costume, has been for centuries the centre of attraction in the mid-day procession. Amidst the surging mass of humanity the spectacle make one image that the sea is furious, the wave are beating against the sides of the ship and violent winds rip the sails our of control. Kuravilangad interreligious harmony and mutual cooperation, as the inhabitants of the villages as a whole participate in the festivities.