Preparations for the annual festival ‘Ayilya Mahotsavam’ at Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple, known for its unique worship of serpent gods and which has the distinction of having a woman as chief priestess, are in the final stages.
This year the festival of the temple in Alappuzha district will commence on November 2 and continue until ‘Ayilyam’ (Malayalam star) day on November 4, temple officials said on Sunday.
Ayilyam Ezhunallathu (procession) is an important ritual of the temple where the chief priestess carries the presiding deity of the temple to Mannarasala Illam (custodian of the Mannarasala temple).
“Arrangements are in the final stages on the temple premises to receive the devotees who come from faraway places to witness the procession,” said M.V. Subramanian Nampoothiri, head of Mannarasala Illam.
The festival will get under way with a Maha Deepakazhcha on the Punartham (Malayalam star) day (November 2). The Ucha (noon) puja done by chief priestess Uma Devi Antharjanam or Mannarasala Amma in front of the ‘Sarpayakshi’ and Nagaraja temples will take place from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m..
This is one of the important rituals conducted by Amma during the Ayilyam festival.
On the day of Ayilyam, the temple opens for Nirmalyadarsanam at 3.30 a.m. The special pujas, starting from six in the morning, will be administered by the male head of Mannarasala lllam and he will lead the Nagakkalam rituals.
The revered Ayilyam Ezhunallathu led by the Mannarasala Amma, who will carry the Nagaraja Thirumukham and Nagaphanam from the temple to the Mannarasala Illam, will take place between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m.
The Ayilyam festival ends when the chief male priest conducts another unique ritual Thattil Noorumpalum at the Illam in the evening. – PTI
