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SPECIAL FEATURES OF UTSAVAM
Aanayottam (Elephant race)
The Utsavam begins with Aanayottam, starting from Manjulal and ending at the
flag staff. Religiously, Utsavam begins with the giving of koora (cloth)
and pavithram (ring made of kusa grass) to the Tantri. In ancient times, the
permission for the festival was taken from Pura koyma , Vanneri Nambidi
and Kantiyur Pattar.
Mulayidal
Mulayidal (sowing of seeds) follows a number of pots, made of silver, filled
with clay are kept at vathilmatam. Tantri sows various seeds, and pots are
kept at mulayara.
Kodiyettam
The Kodiyettam (hoisting of the flag) is performed at night after the Mulayidal.
The chaithanya of Garuda is transferred to the flag. The flag and the flag-staff
are worshiped by the Tantri. Then Puthiyadathu Pisharodi invites complaints
from people, Chakkiyar performs
Chakkiyar Koothu at the Koothambalam every day after the Ucha pooja
till 3.30 pm.
Pallivetta
Pallivetta (the royal hunt) starts with the Lords arrival at the Samudaya
madam (Devaswom Office). By the time Lord arrives , 40 to 50 peoples wearing
masks resembling the boar,
called Pannimanushams with their bodies covered with
wigs and plantain leaves. Pannimanushams, each awaits with two helpers
who are painted to look like a boar but without mask. After the Pisharodi's
call, pallivatta begins with the Lord on elephant run after the Pannimanushams.
They take refuge around temple and at the end of the ninth round pannimanushams
are beaten by the Lord.
Arattu
As the Lord is tired by the pallivetta, the temple opens next day (tenth
day), only after 6.00 am. The usual rituals are done except Usha pooja. There
are two Utsava vigrahas, one of silver and other of gold. The former is older
and taken out only on this occasion. Arattu procession starts at about 6.30
pm and comes out from the Eastern Gopuram . The procession moves along south
lane and turns towards Western Gopuram. It goes round Rudratheertham (holy
water tank) and comes to Athani (porter's rest) , set in memory of Kantiyur
Pattar. Procession halts for a minute there and silence is observed. Then
it comes to Edatharikathu Bhagavaty's shrine.
Arattu then proceeds to Rudratheertham
for abhishekam with tender coconut water brought by the Kittai of Thampuran
Patikkal. The Tantri takes a dip with the silver Utsava vigraha in the Rudratheertham
and soon after that thousands of people also take dip in it. Again the
Utsava vigraha mounts on elephant and it enters Kizhakke Gopuram and Oottapradikshinam
(running circumambulation ) takes place. The rounds run are seven on kodiyettam
day, nine on the pallivetta and eleven on the Arattu day. These are the most
thrilling events of the Guruvayur Utsavam. The Elephant runs round the temple
eleven times and people follow it with good spirit.After the eleventh round
the Utsava vigraha is taken inside. The Pisharodi shouts to invite complaints,
if no one comes forward the flag is held down, and the festival ends here.
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