Jaladurga’, (God of water, who
protects the Islanders from the floods and the threat of the ocean, the Arabian
Sea), is the deity in the Kalathil Bhagavathy temple at Kumbalam. There is a
four inch wide hole above the ‘Sri-kovil’.
During the monsoon, rain-drops fall on the deity. The ‘Sri-kovil’ and the courtyard of the temple get flooded during the
rainy season. Reghupathi, son of Rajan Embramthirii, is the Pujari, priest of Kalathil Devi Temple. ‘Brahmini-Pattu’
a significant song sung by Radhamony Brahminiammal, (wife of Parthasarathi
Nambeesan, the Kazhakakaran), is a
special feature in connection with the temple festival. This is followed by a ‘Thalappoli,’ a traditional ritual procession carried out by young
girls and women belonging to the Nair community,
with an offering to the deity. The main attraction of the Kalathil
Jaladurga Devi temple festival is when one lakh oil lamps are lit in and around the temple and around the
temple compound when the night fell. Gripped by curiosity, I witnessed the
devotees running around and kindling the numerous tiny oil lamps, those lights
collectively radiated enough energy to illuminate the entire temple premises, and
those lights glistened in the temple pond too, a beautiful arena of light
against a backdrop of pitch darkness is a delightful sight to behold!
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
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