Chembai Music Festival

Chembai Music Festival


As part of the Ekadasi day, a 11-day Chembai music festival is held annually in Thiruvanathapuram (Trivandrum), capital of Kerala state in September in memory of Chembai Vaidyanath Bhagawathar.




As part of the Ekadasi day, a 11-day Chembai music festival is held annually in Thiruvanathapuram (Trivandrum), capital of Kerala state in September in commemoration with the birth anniversary celebrations of late music maestro Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, an exceptionally talented Carnatic musician from Chembai, Palakkad in Kerala. Organised by Sri Chembai Memorial trust this week long festival attracts more than 2000 Carnatic musicians.

A group concert mark the end of the festival on the night of Ekadasi. This includes five of Chembai's most favourite songs 'Vadapiganapatim' (Hamsadhwani), 'Rakshmamsaranagatam'(Natta)',Paavanaguru pavanapuradeeswara'(Hamsanandi)', Mamava sadaajanani' (Kanada) and' Karuna Cheivan entu thamasam Krishna' (Yadukula kamboji). The highlight of the festival is group singing of saint Thyagaraja’s 'Pancharatna Krithis' on Dasami day by several leading artists.

Chandanakudam Mahotsavam or Beemapalli Uroos

Chandanakudam Mahotsavam or Beemapalli Uroos

Beema Palli is a shrine located on the Beach Road, 5 km south west of the Railway station.  The shrine is dedicated to Beema Beevi, a Muslim women believed to have had divine powers and the festival is held in her memory. The 10 day festival commemorates the death anniversary of Beema Devi and begins on the 1st of the Hijra month of Jamadul -Akbar (March -April). The 10th day is considered to be the most auspicious. 

The devotees bring decorated earthen pots known as 'Chandanakudam' filled with coins as offerings. The pots are smeared with sandal wood paste, their mouths covered with white cloth and garlands are tied around the neck with three incense sticks thrust into the cloth covering

MAIN FESTIVALS IN KERALA

MAIN FESTIVALS IN KERALA

Amavasi and Pournami	Aranmula Boat Race
Arattupuzha Pooram	Arthunkal Perunnal
Ashtami Rohini	Champakkulam Boat Race
Chembai Music Festival	Chettikulangara Bharani
Chinakkathoor Pooram	Chittur Kongan Pada
Cochin Carnival	Dharani Dance Festival
Ekadesi	Feast at Edathua Church
Feast at Manarcad	Feast at Parumala
Feast Malayattoor Church	Guruvayoor Utsavam
Kadammanitta Padayani	Kalpathi Ratholsavam
Kodungalloor Bharani	Kotiyoor Utsavam
Manapullikavu Vela	Navarathri Mandapam Concerts
Neelamperoor Padayani	Nehru Trophy Boat Race
Nenmara Vallangi Vela	Nishagandhi Festival
Ochira Kali	Onam
Ottappalam Nercha Festival	Pattambi Nercha
Payippad Boat Race	Pradosham
Pulikali	Shasthi
Soorya Dance Festival	Soorya Music Festival
Swati Sangeethotsavam	Thirunakkara Arattu
Thiruvathira	Thripunithura Athachamayam
Thrissur Pooram	Thye Pooyam
Tookam	Trikartika
Vaikathashtami Festival	Vela at Palluruthy and Chertalay
Vishu

Attukal Pongala

Attukal Pongala

It is a popular women's festival celebrated in Attukal Bhagavati temple, one of the ancient temples dedicated to goddess about 2km from Thiruvananthapuram. This 10 day long Pongala Utsavam commences from the Bharani day (Karthika star) of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March). Pongala is a form of sweet porridge, which is considered to be the goddess's favourite offering. It is prepared by cooking jaggery, coconut kernal, and plantain in a specific proportion. The ritual starts early morning and by noon the offering is ready. Men are not allowed in the vicinity of the temple during the pongala. The main priest holding the goddess sword, moves around the temple courtyard and blesses devotees by sprinkling holy water and showering flowers.

The annual 'pongala' festival is celebrated with great fervor at the Attukal Bhagavathy temple popularly known as the 'Sabarimala of women' at Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala. Pongala, held on the ninth day of the ten-day-long festival, is the most important ritual of the temple. This festival is said to be the largest annual gathering of women in the world.

'Pongala' means to boil over, and it refers to the customary offering of things which pleases the goddess. Devotees from all walks of life, irrespective of their social status, religion and cast, throng the temple to offer the 'pongala'- a sweet rice, prepared in earthen pots with rice, jaggery and coconut, to the Goddess. Only women are allowed to participate in this custom.

The ritual of cooking starts early in the morning and by noon, Pongala would be ready. Then the chief priest of the temple arrives with the Goddess’s sword and blesses the ladies by sprinkling holy water and showering flowers. The ladies take this blessed Pongala back to their houses. It is widely believed that the Goddess Bhagawati can make your wishes come true if you participate in this festival and the women do the rituals for health and prosperity of their families.

There is a legend behind this festival. Attukal is said to be one of the places where Goddess Attukalamma, believed to be the incarnation of 'Kannaki', (heroine of 'Silappathikaram' by Tamil Poet Illango in the 2nd century A.D) took rest on her journey northward from Madurai to Kodungallur.

Pongala festival has found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest attendance of women on February 23, 1997. 1.5 million women had participated in that year's Pongala.

Arattu (Holy Bath)

Arattu (Holy Bath)

Arattu is the closing day celebration of the10 day long festival of the Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The Pallivetta (Royal hunt) and Arattu processions are held twice a year from the Padmanabhaswamy temple to the Shangumugham beach. The Pallivetta is held on the eve of Arattu.  It is led by the members of the royal family of the erstwhile Travancore state. The idols of Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy, Lord Sree Krishna and Lord Sree Narasimha are brought in procession around the temple inside the fort and then down to a ritual purification in the Shanmukham Beach accompanied by six gold clothed elephants. Elaborate pujas and ceremonial processions are held during the festival. Several cultural programmes including all night Kathakali constitute the cultural fare.