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| Fairs
and Festivals |
Onam|Vishu
| Navarathri | Christmas
| Easter |
Ramadan |
Eid-Ul-Fitr
| Eid-Ul-Zuha | Milad-Ul-Nabi
| Muharram
| Boat Races
| Erumeli
Pettathullal | Vaikathashtami | Ezharapponnana
| Puthuppalli Chandanakkudam |
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| Boat Races |
In
the festival months of August and September,
the rivers in and near Kottayam are
turned into festival centres. In the
Kumarakom Boat Race, conducted at Kavanar
and Kottathodu rivers, about 50 types
of boats, viz. Veppu, Ody, Churulan
and few Snake Boats participate. |
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| Erumeli Pettathullal |
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| Erumeli
is situated about 60 kms. away from Kottayam town,
it is the biggest pilgrim centre in the district.
There is an ancient temple where 'Sridharma Sastha'
is the presiding deity. There is also an ancient
mosque dedicated to Vavar who is considered to be
the friend of Lord Ayyappa. |
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the Mandala and Makaravilakku seasons
lakhs of pilgrims arrive here on their
way to Sabarimalai. Erumeli is famous
for Pettathullal. Before the devotees
start Pettathullal they offer Prayers
at the mosque of Vavar. Thus Erumeli displays
a very colourful picture of Hindu-Muslim
religious harmony and co-operation. |
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| Vaikathashtami |
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Nearby town, Vaikom, has a Siva
temple where two Ashtami festivals are
held annually, one in Kumbham (February-March)
and the other in Vrischikom (November-December)
of which latter is more famous. The
celebrations last for 12 days and end
with 'Arat',bathing the idol in river
near the Subrahmanya temple at Udayanapuram
on the day after Ashtami. The 'Panchavadyam'
is an attractive item of the festival.
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'Prathal' is the main'Vazhipadu' here.
At Vaikom temple there is a school,
teaching temple arts known as
'Kshethrakalapeedhom' |
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| Ettumannoor(Ezharapponnana) |
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Ettumannoor,
12 Km. away from Kottayam town on the
Main Central Road towards south, is
famous for the 'Mahadeva' temple.
"Seven-and-half golden
elephants" - 7 large ones and
a small one- of this temple is famous.
These elephants were offered with devotion
to the Lord by Karthikathirunal Maharaja
of Travancore.
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The festival here is in Kumbham (February-March).
On the 8th day of the festival the Lord of the
temple is taken out in procession on these golden
elephants, which event attracts thousands of devotees.
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| Puthuppalli
Chandanakkudam |
At
Changanacherry there are two famous mosques; Pazhayapalli
and Puthrupalli.
The Pazhayapalli is said to be more than 1000
years old and it is constructed at the site which
was donated by a king of Rhekkumkur. A Bhagavathi
temple and a catholic church are situated in the
neioghbourhood of this mosque, bearing testimony
to the religious unity among the local people.
The Puthurpalli is about 400 years old. The Chandanakkudam
(Pot containing Sandal Paste) festival is celebrated
by the followers of different religions. For more
details visit. www.changanachery.com
a worldviewer.com/kerala.com
site. |
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