Chandanakudam festival keeps date, procession prelude to Pettathullal today

Kottayam: The Chandanakudam festival conducted as a prelude to the  Pettathullal (ceremonial mass dance) was held at the Nainar Masjid (Vavar Palli) at Erumeli under the aegis of Mahalla Muslim Jamaath on Wednesday.   

The festival which began at 5 p.m. will continue  till 3 a.m. on Thursday.  As part of the festival,  three caparisoned elephants will carry  the 'Chandanakudam' (a pot containing sandalwood- smeared water) in a procession  to various places.

Hundreds of people will accompany the procession  which will begin  from the Erumely Nainar Mazjid and  return to  the Masjid after receptions.     

The Pettathullal will begin by the Ambalapuzha Sanghom in maternal positions and Alangattu Sangham at paternal positions by Thursday morning.  

The Ambalapuzha Sanghom  will deposit  money before the golden idol of Lord Ayyappa and begin Pettathullal from the Kochambalam after the Sreekrishna Parunthu(eagle) flies in the sky.

Erumely will witness a commemoration of the cultural reunion of the place when the Ambalapuzha Sanghom  reaches  the Nainar Masjid. According to the myth, Vavar, the close confidant of Lord Ayyappa,  also went to  Sabarimala making the path clear.  The Ambalapuzha Sanghom  will enter  the Kochambalam after  receiving  welcome with the representative of Vavar at the Nainar Masjid.  

The Pettathullal will be held under the leadership of chieftain Kalathil Chandrasekaran. The Pettathullal of the Alangattu Sanghom will begin after the Alangattu Mahadevan appears in the sky.  The Pettathullal will culminate after they receive the welcome from the Alangattu Sanghom.