The Hindu : Kerala News : `Pettathullal' held with traditional fervour

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

`Pettathullal' held with traditional fervour

By Our Staff Reporter

ERUMELI, JAN. 11. The ceremonial `pettathullal' by the Ambalapuzha and Alangad teams were held with traditional gaiety and devotion here today.

The Ambalapuzha team which had been camping here from Monday evening commenced their thullal by 12.25 p.m. after sighting the `krishna parunthu'(kite) in the skies.

The team led by their `samooha periyon' Kalathil Chandrasekhara Pillai danced its way from the Petta Sri Dharama Sastha Temple (Kochambalam) to the Vavar Palli (Nainaar Mosque) to pay reverence to Lord Ayyappa's Muslim lieutenant, Vavar.

According to legend, it was Vavar, who stood with him in the suppression of the demons through the killing of Mahishasur, the demon king who was disturbing the peace in the abode of the rishis.

They were received at the mosque by the Wakf Board authorities and leaders of the local Muslim community. The team later danced its way to the Erumeli Sri Dharma Sastha Temple more than a kilometre away where they were received by the Travancore Devaswom Board authorities. The team would move to Pamba through the traditional forest path in the evening.

Alangad team

The thullal by the Alangad team was led by their `samooha periyon', A. K. Vijaya Kumar, who inherited the mantle from A. N. Thankappa Menon on his demise. Mr. Menon had led the team continuously for 23 years. The thullal began after sighting the star on the skies. Following the age-old tradition they did not enter the mosque as it is believed that Vavar had left along with the Ambalapuzha team.

Both the teams will participate in the Pamba Vilakku and Pamba Sadya and also the makaravilakku celebrations at the Sannidhanan before their return.

The Devaswom Minister, K. C. Venugopal, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, G. Raman Nair, the mosque ad hoc committee conveners, C. P. Abdul Aziz and P. H. Shahjahan, and others were present on the occasion.

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