An oracle performs during the Bharani festival at Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple in Kodungallur on April 11, 2013. The oracles, when believed to be possessed by the Goddess, deliver prophesies and even injure themselves with swords. Photo: H. Vibhu
The ceremony was performed after Kodungalloor Thampuran (head of the royal family of erstwhile Kodungalloor), patron of the temple, gave the nod for the rites. The devotees, called ‘komarams,’ danced in wild abandon to earthy songs. Photo: H. Vibhu
They uttered the folk mnemonic, ‘thanaro thannaro.’ All of them were dressed in red. Many were farm labourers from different parts of Thrissur, Palakkad, and Wayanad. Photo: H. Vibhu
The post-harvest festival is said to be an assertion of Dalit identity. Long before the enactment of the Temple Entry Proclamation, the Kodungalloor temple was open to Dalits during the Bharani festival. Photo: H. Vibhu
Thousands of devotees performed the ‘Kavu Theendal’ ceremony at the Kodungalloor Bhagavathy temple. Photo: H. Vibhu
People gather to see the dancing devotees entering the temple. Photo: H. Vibhu