Petta Thullal

Petta Thullal

Preparations are nearing completion for the customary Pettathullal at Erumely Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, one of the important rituals of Makaravilakku festival, slated to be held on January 11.

The pettathullal will be held under the auspices of Ambalappuzha and Alangattu teams. The 500-member Ambalappuzha team, led by Chandrasekharan Nair, will begin thullal from Erumely Petta Sree Dharma Sastha temple at 12.30 pm after spotting the ‘Krishnaparunthu’ on the sky above the temple. Caparisoned elephants carrying the thidambu of Lord Sastha will be the special attraction of pettathullal procession. Participants will paste various colour powder on their forehead and will be led by nadaswaram and chendamelam. Travancore Devaswom Board president M P Govindan Nair and members Subhash Vasu and P K Kumar will give a traditional reception to the pettathullal in front of the temple. The ritual will conclude after circumambulating the nalambalam of the temple at 1.30 pm.The petta offering by the Alangattu team, led by Vijayakumar, will begin from Erumely Petta Sree Dharma Sastha temple after witnessing the star on the sky above the temple at 2 pm. Putting sandalwood paste on the forehead, the 300-member Alangattu team will be accorded a traditional reception by the TDB team on arrival at the Eastern Fort of the Lord Sastha temple and they will be led to the temple for offering worship.

Both the pettathullal teams will leave the temple in the evening for Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.

After a two-day trekking on the traditional forest route through Karimala, the teams will reach Pampa aliyanavattom, for the Pampa Sadya and Pampa Vilakku, on January 13.