ONCE-IN-12
YEAR FEST
IN VAIKOM TEMPLE-2013
The "Vadakkupurathu Pattu" festival
of the famed Vaikom Mahadeva temple in Kerala, held in every 12-years with a
series of poojas and rituals to propitiate Goddess Bhaghavathi for the social
wellbeing, will be held from April 13 to 24.According to the temple
authorities, preparations are in full swing for the conduct of the festival,
which attracts devotees from far and wide to one of Kerala's major Lord Shiva
temples located in Kottayam district.The highlight of the event is laying out a
huge five-colour image of the Goddess in the traditional
"Kalamezhuthu" style on the northern courtyard of the sprawling
temple, using finely ground grains, turmeric and floral petals.The artwork
would grow in each day, depicting various forms and mood of the Goddess, to be
proptiated, according to the belief, for peace, harmony and wllbeing of the
people.
The local legend has it that the villages around the temple were onece ravaged by the outbreak of epidemics like smallpox.Moved by the plight of his subjects, the then royal ruler of Vadakkumkoor principality conducted an astrological examination to ascertain the reason for the tragedy and it was found that his people could be saved from the divine wrath by the conduct of 12-day rituals to propitiate the Goddess.Rendering of 'thottam pattu'(songs) praising the Goddess, the protector of the righteous and destroyer of the wicked, is another highlight of the festival.
Prof. John Kurakar
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