‘Thalappoli’ is a
traditional ritual procession carried out by young girls and ladies of Kumbalam
especially those belonging to the particular community, who holds the festival.
They would wear traditional attractive attire, a “Set Mundu’’, a two piece cloth with golden jerry worn like a sari
and blouse, and would hold a ‘Thalam’ (an offering to a deity, which is carried in a sparkling golden or silver or brass plate in their
hands filled with fresh paddy, flowers, rice, coconut and a kindled oil
lamp.
‘Pulanercha’: When a Hindu dies, his close relations, with whom
intermarriages are forbidden, are in defilement for 10 to 16 days. The
mourners, after a bath in the morning, complete, ‘Pulanercha’, the obsequies ceremony, following this they feast
in honour of the deceased on the 16th day or the 41st
day.
‘Patithendal’: It is another
custom in Kumbalam to go to the neighbouring houses and accept alms as penance.
“Angapradakshinam”: Many Hindus, for having benefited through prayers of God, used to
perform “Angapradakshinam,” a
Sanskrit word meaning rolling in prostration, around the sanctum sanctorum of
the temple. This is done after purifying the body by taking a dip in temple
pond.
“Mutiyet”: is one of the ancient ritualistic art forms
performed by the Marars of Nair
community in connection with temple festivals. Naturally this dance form had
made a great influence in the development of other art forms. It is therefore a
significant subject for theatrical studies. The story revolves around “Kali-Darian-Vadhom”, the slaughter of
Darian, wherein Kali, a God and
Darian, an evil character, are the main performers. Kali in a rage would
ultimately carnage Darian. When this dramatic ritual is performed the entire
temple courtyard is turned into a stage performance; the success of “Mutiyet” lies in the co-operation and
participation of the devotees and the local villagers. This ritual is supposed
to avert contagious diseases like small-pox and chicken-pox. “Mutiyet” is performed in Thenali Thekkedath-Mankavil
Bhagavathy Temple near Matavana at Panangad and Pana-parambu Kotheswara Temple
at Cheppanam.
‘Theeyat’: is an art of ‘Kalamezhuthu’, drawing a human figure, on
the temple courtyard. This drawing with five natural colour powders or leaves
is supposed to attract the deities. It is a language or an art of communication
of ideas. The horse, the tiger and the halo around the deity are the three drawings
for “Lord Ayyappa Theeyat.” The first
drawing is Ayyappa with his horse; the second one is Ayyappa riding on the
horse and the third is His kneeling posture of enlightenment. Within the three
drawings, there will be twelve stages in total to tell the story of Ayyappa’s
life. Five natural colours were used for the drawings; charcoal is used for
black, turmeric for yellow; lime for white; red flowers for red and green
leaves for green colour. The Artist hold
the varied colour powders in his hand and it is funneled with his forefinger
and thumb. Another method is to hold his
hand funnel shaped and then releasing controlled amounts of powder downward
through a hole created by a little finger whilst jerking the other fingers. This
produces dots of various sizes. The only time a tool is used is only when the
eyes of Lord Ayyappa is placed. It is amazing to watch the artist who used his
skill and precision to create his master-pieces. This art is one of the
significant rituals in the Mondoth serpent grove at Kumbalam.
‘Thai-Pooya-Kavadi’ is the most prominent ritual in the
festival procession of Sanmarga Pradeepa Sabha (SPS) temple where the deity is
Sree Subrahmanyan. The three day festival includes mainly Kavadi-attom and Kavadi-vilakku.
Devotees carry Kavadi's, with special
offerings to their deity, on their shoulders and dance rhythmically according
to the beating of the drums and music. “Hara
haro hara hara”' is the main slogan of this procession. ‘Kavadi’s are decorated with artificial
bouquet of flowers and mainly with quill feathers of peacock. Camphor, holy
ashes or ‘Bhasmam’, honey, milk,
gingelly oil, rose water and tender coconuts are the main offerings along with
the ‘Kavadi’. These will be poured on
top of the idol, locally called 'Abhishekam'.
For this ritual devotees should take a voluntary act of penance called ‘Vratham’ like abstinence and they
abstain from taking non-vegetarian food for ten days.
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
josephjthayamkeril@google.com
josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com
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