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Thiruvathira Festival - Story
Thiruvathira Festival - Story
by Padmaja Menon
(Bangalore)
The origin of the festival is based on an age-old belief that the Thiruvathira
Festival is celebrated to pay a tribute to Lord Shiva, who killed Kamadeva,
the mythological God of love. Every year on the asterism Thiruvathira in the
Malayalam of Dhanu (December-January), the women of Kerala celebrate this
festival by worshipping Lord Shiva for over a period of 7 days to maintain
marital bliss and happiness. The first Thiruvathira festival coming after the
marriage of a girl is known as Puthen Thiruvathira or
Poothiruvathira and it is celebrated on a grand scale with much pomp and
grandeur.
The women perform several rituals all throughout the Thiruvathira Festival.
Before sunrise the women devotees take their bath and go to the Shiva
temple for darshan and worship the auspicious deity of Shiva. There is very
little celebration in the houses. Except from eating preparations of chama
(panicum milicceum) or wheat along with plantain fruits, tender coconuts,
etc. the women fast for the whole day during the festival. They also chew
betel leaves and redden their lips.
The midnight worshipping of Lord Shiva with flowers, fruits and garlands is
another important ritual, which involves performances of Thiruvathira kali or
Kaikottikali dances. The custom called Pathirappoochoodal, wearing flowers
at midnight and dancing and clapping around lighted brass lamp at the
rhythm of popular and devotional Kathakali songs and Tiruvathira songs is
mainly common among the Namboodiris and Amblavasis (temple servants)
and Bairs ladies.
The ladies also get immense pleasure from Oonjalattom, that is, swinging on
an oonjal (swing) tied to bamboo sticks. This is a special item of amusement
associated with festival of Thiruvathira in Kerala. This year (2012)
Thiruvathira festival is on 8th Jan.
Happy Thiruvadira girls!!