Attractions of Pooyam Mahothsavam
Kavadi Ghosha Yatra The Kavadi Ghosha Yatra, a ceremonial "burden" dance symbolizing balancing a spiritual debt, is a sight to behold. The Kavadi symbolizes balancing of two hills: Shivagiri (hill of purity) and Shaktigiri (hill of strength), entrusted with sage Agasthya, a Saptharishi, by Lord Shiva himself. Festivities begin early morning on the first day, setting out from the Mundakkal Temple. A sea of youngsters clad in yellow attire — symbolizing knowledge, learning, happiness, peace, meditation, competence, and mental development — carry the symbolic Kavadi, chanting “Hara Hara Hara”.
Arattu Ghosha Yatra
This is followed by youth bearing the Purna Kumbha Kalasha pot, symbolizing abundance and "source of life" in the Vedas. A group of dancers performing Kumbha Melam, Pamba Melam, Chenda Melam, Pandi Melam, Mayura Nrithyam, and story enactments from the Puranas follows. Symbolically, these rituals were designed to drive subtle insights, making human life worthy of living. Heaven transcends earth during these mesmerizing rituals.
Upon reaching the temple, the Abhisheka Pooja begins. The pooja is conducted with milk, Kalabham (a paste made of aromatic ingredients like sandalwood, akil, guggulu, kumkum flower, ramacham, manchi, etc.), turmeric, ghee, Panchamritam (five nectars — usually honey, sugar, milk, yogurt, and ghee), and tender coconuts.
Arattu Ghosha Yatra
The Arattu Ghosha Yatra, or ritual bath, begins at the Ayathil Karuthar Pond and is witnessed by thousands from Kala Vedi to Medayil Mukku, symbolically purifying one’s body, mind, intellect, and spirit.
Deepa Prabha
The Light festival, ‘Deepa Prabha’, lights up the night sky, symbolizing the inner awakening of Light and knowledge, in the darkness of ignorance. Devotees light lamps in their homes, hold freshly sprouted coconut leaves, symbolizing a fresh beginning. Firecracker works charge up the locality.
The flag is lowered, finally on the tenth day, at an astrologically predetermined time. The festivities come to a glorious end with the tradition of ‘Hidumban oottu’ and ‘Pongala’, a social cooking ritual to strengthen bonds, amongst various villages and peoples of days bygone. ‘Pongala’ literally means to boil over.
