Cochin Carnival Festivals - कोचीन कार्निवल
|
 |
The people of Kerala celebrate all its festivals with a great deal of joyous enthusiasm. The Cochin Carnival brings a lot of joy and delight to the people of Kerala. Kochi Fort is the center of all the merriment that takes place at the time of the Cochin Carnival.
Participation, Peace, Progress, Adventure and Environment - these are the five major factors that contribute to the essence of this vibrant fete.
The ambience of Kochi Fort is filled with cheerfulness when the Kerala Cochin Carnival is celebrated. It is impressively illuminated. Being the meeting ground of a large number of people dressed in brightly coloured clothes, the sight is a visual delight.
People thoroughly enjoy themselves by participating in various activities and games. Prizes are distributed to the winners but it is the spirit of participating which is of foremost importance at the Cochin Carnival. Many competitions like Beach Bike Race, Sea Swimming, Beach Football and Beach Volleyball are held and youngsters keenly take part in it.
This colourful fiesta attracts the largest number of visitors on New Year's Day. On this day a grand procession is taken out. Elephants in ornamental trappings are the chief attraction of this splendid parade. One can also witness the performances of talented folk artists in this magnificent pageant. The music created by the harmonious blending of five instruments called Panchavadyam is continuously played. The elaborate displays mounted on platforms are simply spectacular. People in fancy dresses are also to be seen in this charming rally.
Yet another unique feature of this festival is that even though it is celebrated in the south Indian state of Kerala, north Indian dances are very much an integral part of the procession.
The devotees are given 'prasadam' in the Uttupura - including boiled wheat and puzhukku made with 2-3 root vegetables like potato, yam etc. On Ekadashi, some people content themselves with one meal avoiding rice while others do not take anything but a few drops of 'Thulasitheertham', i.e. water poured over a Tulasi plant, sacred to Vishnu. The time between the end of the Ekadashi day and the wee hours of the Dwadeshi day is the time for fasting and devotees keep awake the whole night. The more devout feed a few Brahmans and give them money.
In the evening, around 4.30 pm the idol mounted on top of Garuda, Vishnu's vehicle, is taken around the temple in procession with the accompaniment of Vadyamelam. Devotees join in the procession which lasts for about 2 hours. After that, devotees light up thousands of metal lamps, attached to the outside walls of the Nalambalam. It is a spectacular sight to see the lamps lighted up during deeparadhana. After 'Deeparadhana' cultural programs, mainly Kathakali is conducted till 11.30 pm. Then the idol is taken to the 'nelapattu thara' and kept there along with lighted lamps.
Early next morning, i.e. on Dwadesi, the 12th lunar day, the sanctum sanatorium opens at 4.00 am in the morning, devotees worship in the temple again, apply sandal paste to their forehead, obtain 'Prasadam' or 'Malartheertham' and break the fast.
Participation, Peace, Progress, Adventure and Environment - these are the five major factors that contribute to the essence of this vibrant fete.
The ambience of Kochi Fort is filled with cheerfulness when the Kerala Cochin Carnival is celebrated. It is impressively illuminated. Being the meeting ground of a large number of people dressed in brightly coloured clothes, the sight is a visual delight.
People thoroughly enjoy themselves by participating in various activities and games. Prizes are distributed to the winners but it is the spirit of participating which is of foremost importance at the Cochin Carnival. Many competitions like Beach Bike Race, Sea Swimming, Beach Football and Beach Volleyball are held and youngsters keenly take part in it.
This colourful fiesta attracts the largest number of visitors on New Year's Day. On this day a grand procession is taken out. Elephants in ornamental trappings are the chief attraction of this splendid parade. One can also witness the performances of talented folk artists in this magnificent pageant. The music created by the harmonious blending of five instruments called Panchavadyam is continuously played. The elaborate displays mounted on platforms are simply spectacular. People in fancy dresses are also to be seen in this charming rally.
Yet another unique feature of this festival is that even though it is celebrated in the south Indian state of Kerala, north Indian dances are very much an integral part of the procession.
History
The history of this grand feast dates back to the colonial era. The Portuguese welcomed the New Year with a lot of gaiety and fervor. Even though the tradition of partying and merry making has been continuing ever since, the year 1984 witnessed a revival in the festivities. It heralded the beginning of celebrations on a grander scale.Athachamayam
It is a spectacular procession that marks the beginning of the Onam festival during August-September, conducted at Thirpunithura (10 km from Kochi) and Piravam. It displays a rare treasure house of folk and temple arts of Kerala performed by skilled artists. Decorated Elephants and a variety of floats are the other attractions of the procession.Temple Festival
'Ulsavam' at the Siva Temple in Ernakulam for 8 days during Jan/Feb. There are elephant processions each day and folk dance and music performances. The day before last, there is a spectacular display of 'Kadhina' (crackers) at 7.00 arranged on the road from hospital Junction to the temple. The Festival ends with a display of fireworks at 2.00 clock in the morning.Chittoor Ekadashi
Chittoor Ekadasi is celebrated with great fervour in the Chitoor Sree Krishnaswamy Temple. On this day, taking a bath early in the morning, devotees come to the temple and worship the idol and fast the whole day. At 7.30 am 'Abshishekam' or anointing the idol with milk, sandalwood paste etc is performed followed by Panthiradi Pooja. 'Anjanasila' or idol of Lord Vishnu is brought out of the Sree Kovil wrapped in silk, decorated with thulasi (basil) leaves or garland and is held by the main priest. Poojas are performed with the accompaniment of vadya melam including thimila, elathalam, chenda, a percussion instrument and wind instruments such as kombu and nadaswaram etc and people join in the worship. Then the idol is carried around the temple placed inside a decorated chariot (Radham). Two people carrying thooku vilakku (hanging lamps) lead the procession and they circle the temple thrice. The first and second rounds are accompanied only by Chenda melam and the third round along with panjavadyam (five instruments). Prayers are continued for a long period, the whole procedure may last around two hours and the idol is returned to the sanctum sanatorium. After some time, the idol is taken out again for Sree Bhootha Bali, i.e. giving food to the bhoothagana. Then the whole procedure is repeated again.The devotees are given 'prasadam' in the Uttupura - including boiled wheat and puzhukku made with 2-3 root vegetables like potato, yam etc. On Ekadashi, some people content themselves with one meal avoiding rice while others do not take anything but a few drops of 'Thulasitheertham', i.e. water poured over a Tulasi plant, sacred to Vishnu. The time between the end of the Ekadashi day and the wee hours of the Dwadeshi day is the time for fasting and devotees keep awake the whole night. The more devout feed a few Brahmans and give them money.
In the evening, around 4.30 pm the idol mounted on top of Garuda, Vishnu's vehicle, is taken around the temple in procession with the accompaniment of Vadyamelam. Devotees join in the procession which lasts for about 2 hours. After that, devotees light up thousands of metal lamps, attached to the outside walls of the Nalambalam. It is a spectacular sight to see the lamps lighted up during deeparadhana. After 'Deeparadhana' cultural programs, mainly Kathakali is conducted till 11.30 pm. Then the idol is taken to the 'nelapattu thara' and kept there along with lighted lamps.
Early next morning, i.e. on Dwadesi, the 12th lunar day, the sanctum sanatorium opens at 4.00 am in the morning, devotees worship in the temple again, apply sandal paste to their forehead, obtain 'Prasadam' or 'Malartheertham' and break the fast.