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.
