26th March 2018.
Pappavalasu
is a tiny Village near ( Adhi ) Kunnathur in Erode district. Sri Sakthi
Mariamman, the village guarding deity’s, ( kaval deivam) annual festival
usually celebrated in Tamil month Chithirai ( March – April ). It will be
a 5 days festival which starts on Sunday. Our Village comprises of three
streets and the residents are relatives to each other like brothers ( Pangalis
). The responsibility of conducting the festival will be on rotational basis to
each pangalis. Sisters family ( Maman machan – uncle ) are not eligible
for conducting the festival, even if they lives in the same Village. The
festival will be kick started with erection of kambam ( an wooden pole ) with 2
or 3 branches to hold the fire pot. Normally the wooden pole will
be of “Paala maram” - if you cut any branch milk like liquid
will be oozed out. The outer skin will be peeled off and turmeric powder will
be applied before erecting.
Only
during the nights from Sunday to Thursday devotees used dance in a rhythm
to the tune of “man melam“, around the Kambam. They used to tie salangai
pad ( small bells stitched on a leather pad ) The poojari will first go
around the temple with the fire pot. It will be interesting to note that
the dancers will be coming from nearby Villages of different castes. On
Wednesday devotees used to go to Bhavani to bring the holy Kaveri water which
will be used for Amman’s abhishekam, on Thursday. On Wednesday night there will
be a small function, in which all places Amman’s ( Ammai azhaithal ) will
be called for this festival.
On
Thursday morning Abhishekam will be done for Sri Sakthi Mariamman followed by a
procession of Maa- vilakku ( a mixture of sugar with raw rice
powder, some times a lamp will be lighted on the top and decorated with paper
flowers. People used to bring the mulaipari also ( nine cereals grown on a pot
/ plate / bamboo basket ). Then starts the Pongal and offered to Sri Sakthi
Mariamman. Since Sri Sakthi Mariamman is a Village guarding deity,
after Pongal, some devotees used to offer goats also. The festival will be
concluded on Friday with a Pooja to Amman called maru pooja.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK
HERE
Maavilakku
procession
Maavilakku
procession
Poojari circumambulate
around the sanctum with fire pot
kambam ( an wooden pole ) with 2 or 3 branches to hold the fire pot.
Mathalam is also
played during pooja
“Manmelam”
used to be played during dance around
kambam.
An air
instrument called Kombu played during pooja
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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