Kozhikode: Thiruvathira celebrations began on the premises of the Office of the Deputy Director of Education at Mananchira on Saturday, with singer Sindhu Premkumar using the traditional swing (Oonjal). Women clad in the traditional attire took their turns on the swing too.
With Thiruvathira, celebrated as the birthday of Lord Siva, falling on January 11, Save Green Agriculturalist Welfare Society in the city is on a mission to revive the festive glory of Thiruvathira, which is limited to fasting these days.
Thiruvathira, observed on Thiruvathira day of the Malayalam month of Dhanu, is an occasion when women give up cereals and opt for preparations made from tapioca, yam, lentil, and arrowroot. An early morning dip in the pond followed by ‘Thiruvathirakali’ (dance performance) are the other components of the festival.
The traditional ‘Thiruvathira Puzhukku’ made of tubers and green bananas are rare these days, as the ingredients are rarely available, especially in cities. Rising to the occasion, Save Green has set up a stall where Puzhukku ingredients, cultivated using organic means, will be available till January 10.
A ‘Thiruvathira Vandi’ will be flagged off from the Kozhikode District Cooperative Bank premises on January 10, dispensing the ready-to-eat Puzhukku and chips. A team of ‘Pulluvan Pattu’ singers will accompany the vehicle in an attempt to promote the art form, which is also a feature of the festival. The vehicle will serve festival delicacies till the midnight of January 11.
