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Thiruvathira

Image courtsey:Mr. Krishnakumar,USA
A grant event for Women. I don't know about the thiruvathira celebration in any other state. Its a great tradition of Kerala to celebrate this day of the month 'Dhanu' with the ethnic dance form of Kerala. Thiruvathira day has a glittering of kasavu, rhythm of thiruvathira songs, aroma of special dishes , sacredness of herbs, serenity of fasting and all above a connection with the vibrant Lord Shiva.

This year's thiruvathira celebration is on 22nd December. Traditionally women observe 'Orikkal' means one time rice food on Makayiram , the day before thiruvathira. This is for their children. Thiruvathira is for the husband. Girls observe this routine for getting good husbands.

Legends

In most of the stories this event has connection with Lord Shiva and Parvathi. It is considered as the day Shiva married Parvathi devi. Some says that its the day Shiva given rebirth to Kamadeva.

In some stories it has connection with Krishna and Gopikas.

Without doubt its a festival for women folks to pray for their best half and it may be the one to express their inner joy through the slow paces of the thiruvathira dance.

This event is more popular among the Namboothiri and nair casts in Kerala. Rituals vary from region to region. Some of them starts the events one week before thiruvathira day. In our region we observe the rituals from the day before thiruvathira, ie Makayiram. This ritual is for our children. Many terms associated with Thiruvathira. Ettangadi, pathirappoochoodal, thudichukuli, poothiruvathira and dashapushpam

In brief on thiruvathira day we observe fast and will not sleep that night. During the day time we can have 'Ettangadi' and 'Thiruvathira puzhukku'. Two of them are very special for thiruvathira . At the night ladies gather at a house or a temple and perform thiruvathira dance and in early morning they will take bath in nearest pond. After bathing they will adorn their hair with dasha pushpam. This process is known as 'Pathira poochoodal'. Legends say that Sree parvathi used the flowers of Neelakoduveli and leaves of Konna and Erukku.

The first thiruvathira after marriage is known 'Poothiruvathira'. Its a grand celebration with friends and relatives.

Thiruvathira is a celebration of togetherness with souls and with Lord. In this IT era its a sweet remembrance of our past.

Thiruvathira kali- A dance form which originated from Kerala. Once it was associated with this Thiruvathira day rituals. Now it attained a position in our youth festivals. Its a group dance and must contain even numbers. At one time every nair/namboothiri family have a tradition to teach their girls thiruvathira at home. Its a slow pace dance with songs from our epics. Attire will be our traditional dress, Settu and mundu and the hair must be adorned with 'Dasha pushpam'.

Dasha pushpam-10 sacred herbs easily available in Kerala

Ettangadi- Eight tubers which are kachil, chena, chembu, koorkka, Nanakizhangu, Kappa , maran chembu and Kattu kizhangu.

Thiruvathira puzhukku- In this also we use tubers and red cow beans.

Recipe of Thiruvathira puzhukku on my food blog

Thiruvathira is festival for our partner. Whenever the sheer of this festival ushers in my mind I always think of these haunting line from NN Kakkad from his poem 'Saphalamee yathra'

'Aardramee dhanumasa ravukalilonnil Aathira varum pokumalle sakhi

Njanee janalazhi pidichottu nilkkatte neeyennarikathu thanne nilkkoo'

'Aathira varum neram orumichu kaikal korthethirelkkanam namukkikkuri

varum kollam arennumenthennum arkkariyam'

These are the lines written during his sick days. For the lyrics of this poem.

He is insisting his wife to welcome thiruvathira with a thalam with full of memories and without falling a drop of tears through the small window.

Malayalam version of the poem Saphalamee yathra from NN Kakkad

Koovalathila

More about Koovalam

An ornamental plant from waste land

I don't know its name . Noticed it because of its shape and colour. Looked like Colocasia leaves. It may be of the same category. I think its an ornamental plant. We can see this plant in waste lands of Kochi. Its very nice to observe nature closely.

Images taken from Nettoor, Kochi.

Thripunithura Vrischikotsavam

Sree poornathrayeesha temple utsavam images. All these images are taken by our friend and sharing these wonderful images with all of you.
Panchari melam lead by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar

Gandharajan

Its flowers have very unique smell so its called 'Gadharajan' meaning king of fragrance. Flowers are of white colour with thick petals.

Malayalam name:Gandharajan, Somanadi Kayam

Sanskrit:Jantuka

English:White emetic Nut

Hindi:Dekamari

Botanical name:Gardenia Gummifera

In Kerala its flowers are used for poojas. Its resin is used in medicines, it has antiseptic property.

West Indies Cherry plant

Its a shrub. Fruits are of Sour. Its our 'Local cherry fruit'.

Bhadraksha

Sanskrit name:Bhadraksha

Botanical name:Scavala Taccada

English:Beach Naupaka

A soft wooded shrub with white flowers used in Ayurvedic medicines.

Chathura mulla

A herb used in Ayurvedic medicines

Botanical name:Myxopyrum spilacifolium

Its stem is crushed and boiled with coconut oil is used as a medicine to Migraine in sidha medicines.

Kacholam

Malayalam name:Kacholam

Botanical name:Kaempferia Galanga

Its herb used as carminative. Its roots are used as medicine.

Mulberry plant

Aana chamayangal

Aalavattom with kazhuthumani
kachakkayar
Alavattom made with peacock feathers. Its a hand crafted product.
Nettipattam
muthukkuda

At the far end we can see the kolam
Aalavattom and Venchamaram.
Today is the flag hoisting day of 'Vrischikotsavam' of Sri poornathrayeesha temple of Thripunithura. Yesterday we visited the temple and can see the elephant ornaments displayed there. 'Aanachamyangal' thats the malayalam of elephant ornaments. A detailed description of them in my elephant site.

The displayed items are nettipattam, muthukkuda, aalavattom, venchamaram, kazhuthumani, pallamani and kachakkayar.

Great work of artists from Thrissur who also are an inevitable part of Thrissur pooram the ethnic festival of Kerala.

Poornathrayeesha temple

Colours of Thripunithura Vrischikotsavam

Kazhcha sheeveli at Thripunithura Vrishchikotsavam

Loobikka

A sour fruit from Kerala.

When I had started blogging I had written about this popular fruit with images of ripe loobikka.

Its so nostalgic to think about this red fruits. Lot of memories from School about this cute, shiny red fruit. Loobikka has another name lovlolikka, it has nothing to do with love but almost all the friendships in that time had a sourness of loobikka.

Googled for the english name of this fruit. If you know pls comment.

Earlier post about this fruit

Biriyani kaitha

Leaves of this herb are used to garnish Biriyani. Leaves have a spicy taste. Another name is Rambha.

Sappotta(Chikku)

Sappotta More details about this fruit

Puttu kutti

One of the vessels from my ancestors. Its a pleasure to handover utensils and still my mother is using this. Traditional puttu kutti made of bronze.

Ottupathrangal