Sunday, September 7, 2008

Kavadiyattam

The climax of the festival is Kavadiyattom. Kavadiyattam conducts commonly in Subramanian temples. Neervilakom temple is belongs to lord Ayyappa, even though this temple conducts kavadiyattam. The group of devotees wearing Kavi or Black costumes with ash smeared all over the body, dance in a frenzy carrying Kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are colourful bow shaped wooden structures raising six to ten feet high. The ambalakavadi is structured and decorated like a temple. The Pookavadi has clusters of colourful paper, cloth or paper flowers arranged on them. The resounding beats of percussion instruments like chenda melam and pampamelam are the main attraction of kavadi procession. The Kavadi-bearer is required to observe various rules between the time he takes up the Kavadi and the day of the offering. He has to take Kavaedi vritham (See the page about the kavedi vritham) of at least 21 days. He has to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the Kavadi and at the time of ffering it to the Lord. The Kavadi-bearer's bare chest is covered with several 'Rudraksha Malas' (rosaries). The Kavadi-bearer observes celibacy. He takes only pure, Satwic food; he abstains from all sorts of intoxicating drinks and drugs, He continuously thinks of God. It gives him great power of endurance. The Kavadi-bearer is in a high state of religious fervour. He dances in ecstasy. His very appearance is awe-inspiring; there is divine radiance on his face. Devotees often experience the state of feeling complete union with the Lord.There are various types of kavadies. Nay (ghee) kavadi, Bhasma (ash) kavadi, Enna (oil) kavadi, Pal (milk) kavadi, Pananeer (rose water) kavadi etc are the major kavadies in Neervilakom Temple. The two small pots hanging at either end of the Kavadi contain Ghee, Milk, Oil or other articles that the devotee has vowed to offer to the Lord and the devotee must collect these articles or money equal to the selected article, by begging. They travel on foot from house to house, and beg from door to door.

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