The Hindu : `Petta thullal' held

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

`Petta thullal' held

By Our Staff Reporter

The Ambalappuzha team at the `Petta Thullal' taken out in front of the Nainar Mosque in Erumeli on Saturday.

KOTTAYAM Jan. 11. In a unique expression of spiritual frenzy transcending religious fervour and dancing to the accompaniment of primordial rhythms, thousands of Ayyappa devotees paid homage to Vavar Swamy at Nainar Mosque at Erumeli today.

The team from Ambalappuzha representing the maternal side of Lord Ayyappa and those from Alangad representing the paternal side, had arrived at Erumeli on Friday itself.

The ceremonial dancing by Ambalappuzha team under their `samooha perion' (group captain), Kalathil Chandrasekharan Nair, commenced by noon when they sighted the "Krishna Parunthu'' (kite) in the skies. Tradition has it that the sighting of the kite denotes the arrival of the deity at Sri Krishnaswamy temple at Ambalappuzha to Erumeli.

Painting their body in different colours and adorning themselves with green leaves, the members of Ambalappuzha team who started their "thullal'' by noon, danced their way to the Nainar Mosque where they were received by the Mallah Jama at leaders.

The Jama at president, P. H. Shahjahan, the secretary, M. M. Liaquat, and others took the team to the mosque. After the `thullal' was performed at the abode of the Muslim saint, accompanied by the Jama at leaders, they moved to Valiambalam where they were received by the Travancore Devaswom Board officials. By 3 p.m. all arrangements for the `thullal' by Alangad were completed.

They started their ceremonial dance after sighting the star in the skies. the team did not move into the Nainar mosque since, traditionally it is believed that Vavar Swamy will move along with Ambalappuzha team. The Alangad team was led by A. N. Thankappan Menon .

Both the teams will now move to Sannidhanam. They will reach Pampa on Monday and participate in Pamba Sadya and later in Pamba vilakku celebration.

They will then trek to Sannidhanam to participate in the Makara vilakku scheduled for January 1.

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