Hundreds participate in Petta Thullal

Kottayam: The  'Pettathullal' (ceremonial mass dance) was held at Erumely on Thursday with  Ambalapuzha Sanghom holding it in maternal positions and Alangattu Sangham at paternal positions in the morning.  Erumely and its precincts were filled with the sounds of  'Saranam Ayyappa.' Pettathulal was held to  commemorate the elimination of Mahishi by  Lord Ayyappa.

The Ambalapuzha Sanghoms deposited  money before the golden idol of Lord Ayyappa  

The security officials had a tough time controlling  the crowd when two of the Sanghams began dancing in frenzy.  

The Ambalapuzha Sanghom  began Pettathullal from Kochambalam after the Sreekrishna Parunthu(eagle) flew in the sky. The Pettathullal of the Ambalapuzha Sangham ended on Thursday afternoon and that of the Alangattu Sangham  in the  evening after they were received at the Kochambalam.

According to myth, Vavar, the close confidant of Lord Ayyappa, also went to  Sabarimala clearing the  path.

The Pettathullal was held under the leadership of chieftain Kalathil Chandrasekaran.  The myth is that Lord Krishna will come to bless the Ambalapuzha Sangham after the Uchapooja at the Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Swamy temple. Erumely Jamath president P.A. Irshad and TDB president A. Padmakumar welcomed the Sangham.