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| All
India Exhibition , Trichur |
In
connection with the Pooram Festival in the Vadakkmunathan
Temple , Trichur , an All India Exhibition is
constructed every year during the Pooram days
(April May ) under the combined auspices
of the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devasom at
Thekkinkad Maidan . Various official and non-official
agencies participated in the Exihibition which
lasts for one month . |
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| Bharani festival in Kodungallur Bhagavathy
Temple |
Kodungallur
,the ancient capital of Kerala , had been a known
maritime port of India .The Bhagawati temple at
Kodungallur is of great renown throughout the
state of Kerala. Kodungallur situated on the west
coast, was once a great port of the Chera rulers
of Tamilnadu, It was known by the Greek as the
musris.
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The
Bharani festival at the Kodungallur Bhagawati
temple is one of the grandest in Kerala. It is
a month of festivities from the Bharani asterism
in the month of Aquarius to 7 days after the Bharani
asterism in the month of Pisces. Traditionally
the temple (especially during the Bharani festival)
has been associated with a lot of animal sacrifices.
These customs have been done away with in the
20th century. The blood of the sacrificed
used to be spilled over two stones in the prakaram,
and as mentioned above, this practice is now stopped.The
Bharani festival also witnesses the offering of
worship to the deity in the innermost sanctum
by those belonging to castes other than the priestly
class. One day before the final Bharani,
the chandanapodi Chartal or the smearing of the
image with sandal paste is carried out. There
are further festivities on this day and the following
day. Thousands from all over Kerala congregate
to celebrate this festival amidst great pageantry.
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| Makara Sankaranti |
Makara
Sankaranti coinciding with Pongal
in Tamilnadu is one of the important festivals
at Kodungallur. As in Taminadu, the day prior
to Pongal is celebrated with the burning of unwanted
belongings in a bonfire. |
Makara
Sankranti brings with it 4 days of colorful fanfare,
with processions twice a day on elephants to the
accompaniment of music, fireworks. The final day's
procession is marked by the accompaniment of several
women carrying plates of rice and coconut. In
fact, the centermost entity in the procession,
is a plate containing these offerings, on an elephant.
A grand reception offered to this procession
when it reaches the temple. The procession relives
from the original location of the Bhagawati temple,
(the Kurumbayamma shrine in Kodungallur). |
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| Kodungallur
Thalapoli Festival |
| The
Thalapoli festival of the famous Kodungallur Bhagavathi
Temple is held in December January every
year . |
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| Koodalmanikyam Temple Festival
, Irinjalakuda |
Situated
10 km away from Irinjalakuda railway station,
this ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Bharatha,
the brother of Sri Rama. It is perhaps the only
temple in India with Bharatha as the deity and
devotees claim miraculous cures from disease and
ill health. |
The
temple has a Koothambalam, where traditional
temple art forms like Koothu and Koodiyattam
are performed. During the festival, the
deity is given a holy bath (Aarattu) at Kuleepini
Theertham, the holy temple tank. |
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The annual festival
lasts for 11 days. Ezhunnallathu or the
Royal outing when the Symbolic image of the deity
(Thidambu) is taken out in procession is the prime
attraction of the festival. The Thidambu is accompanied
by Seventeen caparisoned elephants, moving around
the shrine to the accompaniment of Panchavadyam
& Pancharimelam As part of the cultural fare,
Chakyar Koothu is performed in the Koothambalam.
An all - night Kathakali performance on
the fourth day attracts large crowds.
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| Feast in St. Marys Church
, Koratty |
The
church is locally known as Koratty Muthi
s Church . It is an old Catholic Church
build in honor of St.Mary .The most important
festival here is conducted during the second week
of October . |
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| Feast in St. Josephs
Church , Pavaratty |
The
feast of this church which is celebrated in the
name of St. Joseph , calls on the 22nd
day after Easter . |