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KADAMATTOM
FEAST
Mainly two feasts are
celebrated in this church, one on the 24th and 25th of Makaram (January-February)
and the other on 23rd of Medam (April-May). The former is the most
important. According to legends, the feast is celebrated in memory
of Kadamattathachan, the founder of this church, while some others
say that it is in remembrance of his Guru. The consensus of option
is that both of them passed away on Makaram 24. Kadamattathachan
had been a celibate all his life and worked several wonders.
KALLOOPPARA PERUNAL
St. Mary's Church at Kallooppara stands in close proximity to the
Kallooppara Bhagavathy temple. Inside the church, on its eastern
and western wings, there are two granite slabs with some inscriptions
in the pali language. The palli perunal and the foundation day of
the Church are the two celebrations held on January 15 and July
5 respectively.
KANATHURKAVU UTSAVAM
KANATHURKAVU is an ancient Hindu temple in the heart of
Kannur consecrated to the Goddess Mahadevi and later to Sree Rama
also. During the annual festival in April, thousands of people go
there to witness Theyyattom, dance ritual of the Mahadevi and other
Gods.
KAPPALLY KUMBHAM THIRA
There is a temple about half a kilometer to the east of the Kappally
palayat temple. This is the Kappally temple where the Thira festival
is conducted annually from 3rd to 13th of Kumbham (February-March)
every year. The most important day of the festivals is the 12th
of Kumbham. The ceremonies during the first eight days are known
as Vellattom. This includes a festive dance, when the devotees assuming
the gulse of the deity, participate in it. The vellattom ceremony
starts at 4 PM and goes up to 9 PM every day. On the day of the
thira festival, the kurups of the Kappally family to whom this temple
belongs proceed from Chakyeri with the temple treasures in a gorgeous
procession to the temple. This is followed by another procession
in which the sword and shield are carried to the temple. This procession
starts from the house of an ancient house. Caparisoned elephants,
pipes and drums and tradesmen in their traditional costumes lead
the procession. In the rear are blacksmiths, cobblers etc. Though
they do not sound any musical instrument in their procession, the
cry of triumph of the procession is highly exhilarating.
At about 5 O' clock in the evening starts the thira festival. The
man who assumes the gulse of the tutelar deity is led to the temple
yard by the Kurups, the patrons of the temple, by clasping his hands.
The actor wields a lance. The tandan (the chief of the local Thiyyas),
with the liquor goblets and followed at his heels by the actor with
the lance, runs around the lamp and the altar. This is known as
meeth. The actor who plays the role of the deity, finally snatches
the goblet from the Thandan and pretends to drink the liquor (juice
of tender coconuts) to the tune of the various musical instruments
and cry of victory from the crowd. On that day, representing the
Lokamalayarkavu Bhagavathy, the oracle of the temple comes to Kappally
flaunting his traditional silken roles and sword. He is received
in the Kappally temple with due honour and respect symbolising a
grand welcome to Bhagavathy. Various rites of the thira are performed
during the whole night and late into the next day. Devotional songs
extolling the martial prowess of the goddesses will be recited by
the devotees. In addition to the immense congregation, all the members
of Kappally family, wherever they are stationed, participate in
the festival, offer worship to their goddess and submit their offerings
to her. |