Kerala - Kollam   

A ritual to appease `Kadalamma'

By Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM, JAN. 29. The coastal village of Pandara Thuruthu, near Karunagapally in Kollam district, witnessed a unique ritual this afternoon, when hundreds of members of the Araya fishing community gathered on the beach to perform a ritual called `meenoottu' (feeding the fish) to venerate and solicit the benevolence of the sea goddess, `Kadalamma'.

The ritual was organised in connection with the annual festival of the 594- year-old Sri Mukkumpuzha Devi Temple in the village, which is managed by members of the fishing community. Pandara Thuruthu is a thin strip of land sandwiched between the sea and the backwaters. Most of the residents earn their livelihood from fishing.

The ritual was performed to appease `Kadalamma' for better prospects during the coming year. The ritual was performed for the first time last year. The president of the temple, V. Thamarakshan, said that for the first time in many years, the village did not have to face the wrath of the sea during the monsoon last year. Moreover, there was a rich harvest from the sea during the period. Hence this day is kept apart to venerate `Kadalamma' and seek her blessings, he explained.

Each fisherman contributes two per cent of the value of his catch to the temple. The `meenoottu' ritual begins with a one-hour keerthanam venerating `Kadalamma' as `Parashakthi'. Two sacks of paddy is cooked and all the men of the fishing community take a fist-full of the rice, wade into the sea and throw it into the sea for the fish to feed on. The women stand on the shore, praying and watching the ritual that goes on till sunset.

This unique ceremony was inaugurated by the Executive Director of the Chavara unit of the Indian Rare Earths (IRE), Rajendranathan Nair, who also took part in the ritual by feeding the fish.

Incidentally, Pandara Thuruthu has rich deposits of heavy minerals and some of the best mining areas of the IRE are located in this village.

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