Kochi: The Pandalam royal family representative Srimoolam Tirunal Sasikumaravarmaraja flagged off the Alangad group’s ‘Pettapurappadu’ from ‘Chembola Kalari’ at Alangad near Aluva on Monday. This was in connection with the Erumeli ‘Pettathullal,’ the ceremonial dance by Alangad and Ambalapuzha groups to be performed on January 11 (27th of Malayalam month Dhanu).
The age-old rituals are followed as part of the Sabarimala temple festival which is linked to the mythical history of Lord Ayyappa. The Alangad group led by oracle of Kampilly Sankaran Venugopal started the journey to Erumeli via Aluva Manapuram, Perumbavoor and Kadapattur and will reach the most important stopover on the way to Sabarimala by January 11.
Travancore Devaswom Board member Ajay Tharayi, who was present on the occasion, said the threat of Bhumata brigade chief Trupti Desai to enter the Sabarimala temple was a deliberate attempt to create a controversy. He lashed at the health department for frequent raids on shops and prasadam counters at Sabarimala. Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, who was at Sabarimala, criticised the move to close down the ‘appam’ production plant. “The charges raised about low-quality rice being used for appam production are baseless. It is produced following all safety and quality norms,” he said.
