Kerala - Kottayam   

Unprecedented rush at pettathullal

Staff Reporter

Ambalappuzha, Alangad groups start trek

KOTTAYAM: The victory of good over evil was recreated in a centuries-old ritual by thousands of Ayyappa devotees when they participated in the ritual dance of `pettathullal' at Erumeli, marking the countdown for conclusion of the two-month-long pilgrim season at the hill shrine in Sabarimala.

The high points of Thursday's `pettathullal' was the ritual dance by the Ambalappuzha group, representing the maternal lineage of Lord Ayyappa and later by the Alangad team representing the paternal lineage of the Lord. Both the groups later started their long trek through the traditional forest route to Pampa to participate in the Pampa Sadya and later the grand finale, the Makaravilakku scheduled for January 15.

The day saw unprecedented rush of devotees to Erumeli. The more than 300-strong Ambalappuzha group, under the leadership of Thalathil Chandrasekharan Nair, had arrived at the pilgrim shelter, Kochambalam, on Wednesday itself. Though the thullal by other pilgrims had begun early in the morning, the Amblappuzha group waited patiently for the divine signal to reach them. By 12:10 there was a huge cry of `Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' from the thousands who had thronged the little town square between the Cheriyambalam and the Nainaar Mosque (Vavar Palli) when the kite (Kirshna Parunthu) was cited in the skies. Slowly, the ritual dance by the Ambalappuzha group began.

The `Samooha periyon' (group leader), Chandrasekharan Nair, and his group slowly danced their way to the Nainar Mosque (Vavar Palli) to pay homage to the Lord's trusted lieutenant, Vavar, in whose name the mosque has been built.

After going round the mosque once, the group came out and danced its way to the Valiambalam, nearly a kilometre away, along with the authorities of the mosque. They were received by the Travancore Devaswom Board authorities.After waiting at the Valiambalam till evening, they started their long trek to the Sannidhanam.

The Alangad team led by its group leader Amabadathu Vijayakumar and hundreds of devotees started their ritual dance by 3 p.m. after they cited the star in the skies.

They did not enter the Vavar Palli as it is believed that the spirit of Vavar had already left to meet Lord Ayyappa along with the Ambalappuzha group. After reaching the Valiambalam, the Alangad team also started its journey to Sabarimala in the evening.

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Unprecedented rush at pettathullal

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