Sunday, September 7, 2008

Palli Vilakku

This fiesta of lights is part of the Pallivilakku ritual, held as part of the annual Uthram festival of Neervilakom Ayyappa temple. Thousands of lamps will be lighted on the intricate wooden chariot-like lamp post, which can be moved with the help of thousands of devotees. The shells of Marotti (Hydnocarpus pentandra) fruit will be filled with natural oil to light lamps on these huge lamp post. They will be lighted and the huge lamp post is then carried by hundreds of devotees from the 'Kizhakke Aalthara' to the 'temple entrance' along with the 'Jeevitha'. Touching the 'Paalli Vilakku' during the procession is considered to be divine and is believed to neutralise the misconducts.To add to the splendor of the ritual, the post will be rotated fast, with the lamps still shining on them. The festival is one of those rare events in which such a large number of lamps are featured.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Mandala Pooja

Mandala Pooja celebrations continues for a period of 41 days beginning from first day of the Malayalam month of Vrishchikam (November-Decemb...