Thrissur: The famed Arattupuzha Pooram (temple festival), regarded as the largest congregation of deities on earth, will be held on Monday, March 30, bringing together 23 gods and goddesses (deities) in a centuries-old ritual steeped in tradition and belief.
The festival begins with the ceremonial arrival of Arattupuzha Sastha at the Nilapadu Thara (in front of Arattupuzha Sree Sastha Temple), marking the start of processions by participating deities. The processions unfold across the vast paddy fields, featuring movements of these deities, accompanied by traditional percussions ( Small poorams) until the major deity Thriprayar Sreerama (Thevar) reaches the Kaithavalappu.
In keeping with long-held beliefs, temples across India - including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Thrissur Vadakkumnathan Temple - will conclude their Athazha Pooja, the final, sacred evening ritual (night worship) before 6 pm and close early on the day of the festival. Devotees believe that celestial beings, spirits, and divine entities descend to witness the 'Bhooloka Vaikuntha Darshanam' (Vaikuntha, the abode of god on earth) during Arattupuzha Pooram.
After participating in the Thottippal Pakal Pooram, Arattupuzha Sastha returns to the temple for rituals, including 'Sree Bhoothabali', a traditional temple ritual performed during festivals in Kerala, before re-emerging in a grand procession accompanied by 15 caparisoned elephants to host the divine gathering.
As the Panchari Melam ends, Sastha proceeds towards Ezhukandam (paddy field) with an escort of seven elephants under the glow of traditional lamps, to symbolically check the arrival of the Thriprayar Thevar. On return, Sastha takes a position at Nilapadu Thara, receiving the deities.
Late in the evening, after the procession of Chathakudam Sastha in the presence of Edakkunni Bhagavathy, the ceremonial responsibility is handed over before Sastha returns to the temple.
From around 11 pm, a series of majestic processions begins. Thottippal Bhagavathy and Chathakudam Sastha lead with seven elephants and Panchari Melam. This is followed by dieties named Poonilarkavu Bhagavathy, Kaduppassery Bhagavathy and Pisharikkal Bhagavathy, each accompanied by five elephants and traditional percussion.
Edakkunni Bhagavathy's procession follows, along with those of Anthikad Karthyayani Bhagavathy and Choorakode Durga Bhagavathi, each marked by elaborate elephant escorts and melam performances. Nettissery Sastha joins the celebrations around 11 pm.
After midnight, as the Chothi star reaches its peak, the aarattu (holy bath) rituals commence at Mandharakadvu, beginning with Pisharikkal Bhagavathy. Soon after, Thriprayar Thevar arrives at Kaithavalappu, where Panchavadyam and melam performances accompany the deity's ceremonial presence.
One of the highlights of the festival is the 'Kooti Ezhunnallippu' - a rare divine congregation often described as 'Bhooloka Vaikuntham '- where Urakathamma Thiruvadi and Chathakudam Sastha stand on one side, and Cherpu Bhagavathy on the other, in a symbolic assembly of deities.
Following the aarattu of Pisharikkal Bhagavathy, a sequence of holy baths takes place for multiple deities, including those from Edakkunni, Thaikkattussery, Kaduppassery, Pisharikkal, Poonilarkavu, Thottippal, Choorakode, Anthikad, Ayyunnu, Cherpu, Urakathamma Thiruvadi and Thriprayar.
As Thriprayar Thevar proceeds for the aarattu, Arattupuzha Sastha bids farewell to the deities in a ceremonial send-off (Upacharam). The final honours are accorded to Cherpu Bhagavathy, Urakathamma Thiruvadi and Thriprayar Thevar.
The festival concludes with the official proclamation announcing the next year's Pooram, after a ceremonial send-off of Thriprayar Thevar, bringing to a close one of Kerala's most spiritually significant and visually resplendent temple festivals.