News

Kodunthirapully Agraharam is a small beautiful landscape about 3 kms, west of Palakkad town limit. The Agraharam consists of exclusive brahminical about 100 uniform row houses. Apart from other usual Agraharam festivals the most important festivals of the Village is Navarathri festival, which is conducted for nine days. It is celebrated once every year during the beginning of October month. It starts from bright fortnight day just after the Mahalayapaksha Ammavasa. 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. Unlike to other Tamil Brahmin Agraharam where in the festival is celebrated with “Bommai Kollu” in every house, at Kodunthirapully this festival is celebrated in a unique manner and conducted in typical Kerala style and customs with elephants, processions, drums, panchavadyams and burning of crackers. Here it is the community festival celebrated in the temple, associated with Lord Sri Rama. It is believed that Lord Sri Rama worshipped Durga Devi for nine nights prior to killing of the demon king Ravana on Vijaya Dasami day. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. 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 one is on the last day, Mahanavami. There are continuous series of program for the whole day and night. Several caparisoned more than 18 prominent richly caparisoned elephant participates in the procession preceded by Panchavadyam, Chendamelam and Nadaswaram. The celebration is highlighted by day-and-night elephant processions. A huge crowd gathers to watch and listen to the performance, which is really a feast for the eyes and ears. Prasadam of the temple on these days of Navarathri is pure ghee ‘Naeyyappam’, which is lavishly offered.

K. S. Narayanaswamy Jt. Secretary, Mahanavami Navaratri Committee. E-mail: narayanaswamyksn@gmail.com