Kodunthirapully Navaratri Festival 2006

Description

The most important festivals of the temple is Navarathri festival, which is conducted for nine days. The total period of worship lasts for nine days out of which the first three are dedicated to Durga, the next three to Lakshmi and the last three to Saraswati. These goddesses are the consorts of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma respectively. This festive here is celebrated mainly at Bhoodevi Sreedevi Sametha Adhikesavaperumal Temple, with distinct culture and tradition of their own, the Tamil Brahmins with Kerala culture and tradition. It is very famous and is unique. An air of festivity descends on the whole village for 9 days. Nine to ten houses are grouped together and assigned a particular day, which they will take the full responsibility of the celebration including feeding the devotees. They compete with one another to make their participation more colorful. The really memorable ones are on the last two days, Durgashtami & Mahanavami. This festival is conducted in typical Kerala style and customs. There are continuous series of program for the whole day and night extending about 48 hours. Several caparisoned elephant participates in the procession preceded by Panchavadyam, Chendamelam. On the final Mahanavami day more than 20 prominent richly caparisoned elephants participate in the procession. Most of the elephants were of donations of the devotees. It is the common belief that one who prays the Lord Adhikesavaperumal for the boon of a male child on the Mahanavami day shall be surely be blessed with a child on the subsequent year and accordingly the devotee donates elephant for the procession. Sri Adhikesavaperumal on this day is on completely in prasanna mood eager to fulfill the desire of the devotee. Thousands of people from far and near gathers on this day to participate and to receive the blessings of Sri Adhikesavaperumal. Prasadam of the temple on these days of Navarathri is pure ghee ‘Naeyyappam’, which is lavishly offered.