Petta-Thullal at Erumeli
(Peta means market and thullal is dance)
Every year, millions of Ayyappa devotees are going to the Sabarimala yathra but some devotees even they don’t know what is petta-thullal at erumeli
and its importance who has commenced it, why we should do every ritual in Ayyappa Deeksha ,lets try to explore “Petta-thullal”.
Ayyappa army was assembling at Erumeli and they were gearing up for the war, soldiers were carrying provisions and also armor along with the required materials, it was not a normal war it was a holy war.
Ayyappa has set a pattern of spiritual discipline for the period of 41 days before the auspicious Makarasamkramana day, before the ten days of the day It was the first Petta -thullal, all the sects and creed of the army were there in blue and dark clothes and faces were decorated with colors.
The army first prayed at kochambalam small Shasta temple from there along with drums, beats reaches to the mosque of Vavar and his men, from there all together they proceed to the Valiyambalam that is the bigger Dharma Shasta temple, they had the bath in river before entering into the bigger Shasta temple, where the Petta-thullal was completed.
The Petta Thullal is performed to the chanting of Swami Ennakathom… Swami Ninnakathom. The Amabalapuzha team starts their journey from the Amabalapuzha temple a couple of days before the Petta Thullal day. They reach Erumeli after performing Aazhi Puja at the Manimala Bhagavati Temple. This puja is performed for the redemption of sins.
Ambalapuzha Sangam starts their Petta Thulal after witnessing the Eagle flying round in sky. The popular belief is that Lord Vishnu arrives from Amabalapuzha Sri Krishna temple atop Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, to witness the Petta Thulal.
Each devotee paints his body with green, black and kumkum color. The devotees carry fake weapons like mace, arrows, swords etc.
The Petta Thulal starts from Erumeli Kochambalam (small temple) and reaches the Vavur mosque in Erumeli. Here the devotees circumnavigate the mosque and make offerings and receive mala and elasu. Then they move to the famous Erumeli Petta ShriDharmashasta Temple and end the Petta Thullal.
The Alancode Sangam has a more subdued Petta Thullal. This group of Ayyappa devotees only wears black color dress. They don’t wear a cloth on the head and instead they keep Irumudi kettu. They only chant ‘Ayyappoo’ and nothing else.
The Alancode devotees smear kalabham on the body and start their Petta Thulal after witnessing the star during the day time in the sky.
Petta Thullal is also known as Petta Kettu. This important ritual held in the month of January. Petta thullal is considered as a conversation between Vavar and Ayyappan. Pette thullal is starts from Kochambalm, it is also a Sastha (Ayyappa) temple. This temple is facing towards the Vavarambalam. Prior to the ritual the pilgrimers coated colour on their body. Then they start to dance with musics played by traditional instruments.
From the starting place Petta thullal is continued towards the Vavarambalam. Pilgrimers believe that, Vavar swami also accompanies with them to the Valiyambalam. It is the finishing place for Petta thullal. This temple is situated 1 km away from Vavarambalam. The devotees turn around this temple and finish the festival. It is very attractive and colourful. On the day large number of people comes as a devotee or a viewer. Devotees gather in Erumeli and participate in this function. Moreover, this festival and the natural beauty of Erumeli invite tourists to this place during the seasonal time. Palm and teak plantations are the other attraction of this place. Climatic condition is also nice during the festival time.
Swamyeee Saranam Ayyappoo
(Peta means market and thullal is dance)
Every year, millions of Ayyappa devotees are going to the Sabarimala yathra but some devotees even they don’t know what is petta-thullal at erumeli
and its importance who has commenced it, why we should do every ritual in Ayyappa Deeksha ,lets try to explore “Petta-thullal”.
Ayyappa army was assembling at Erumeli and they were gearing up for the war, soldiers were carrying provisions and also armor along with the required materials, it was not a normal war it was a holy war.
Ayyappa has set a pattern of spiritual discipline for the period of 41 days before the auspicious Makarasamkramana day, before the ten days of the day It was the first Petta -thullal, all the sects and creed of the army were there in blue and dark clothes and faces were decorated with colors.
The army first prayed at kochambalam small Shasta temple from there along with drums, beats reaches to the mosque of Vavar and his men, from there all together they proceed to the Valiyambalam that is the bigger Dharma Shasta temple, they had the bath in river before entering into the bigger Shasta temple, where the Petta-thullal was completed.
The Petta Thullal is performed to the chanting of Swami Ennakathom… Swami Ninnakathom. The Amabalapuzha team starts their journey from the Amabalapuzha temple a couple of days before the Petta Thullal day. They reach Erumeli after performing Aazhi Puja at the Manimala Bhagavati Temple. This puja is performed for the redemption of sins.
Ambalapuzha Sangam starts their Petta Thulal after witnessing the Eagle flying round in sky. The popular belief is that Lord Vishnu arrives from Amabalapuzha Sri Krishna temple atop Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, to witness the Petta Thulal.
Each devotee paints his body with green, black and kumkum color. The devotees carry fake weapons like mace, arrows, swords etc.
The Petta Thulal starts from Erumeli Kochambalam (small temple) and reaches the Vavur mosque in Erumeli. Here the devotees circumnavigate the mosque and make offerings and receive mala and elasu. Then they move to the famous Erumeli Petta ShriDharmashasta Temple and end the Petta Thullal.
The Alancode Sangam has a more subdued Petta Thullal. This group of Ayyappa devotees only wears black color dress. They don’t wear a cloth on the head and instead they keep Irumudi kettu. They only chant ‘Ayyappoo’ and nothing else.
The Alancode devotees smear kalabham on the body and start their Petta Thulal after witnessing the star during the day time in the sky.
Petta Thullal is also known as Petta Kettu. This important ritual held in the month of January. Petta thullal is considered as a conversation between Vavar and Ayyappan. Pette thullal is starts from Kochambalm, it is also a Sastha (Ayyappa) temple. This temple is facing towards the Vavarambalam. Prior to the ritual the pilgrimers coated colour on their body. Then they start to dance with musics played by traditional instruments.
From the starting place Petta thullal is continued towards the Vavarambalam. Pilgrimers believe that, Vavar swami also accompanies with them to the Valiyambalam. It is the finishing place for Petta thullal. This temple is situated 1 km away from Vavarambalam. The devotees turn around this temple and finish the festival. It is very attractive and colourful. On the day large number of people comes as a devotee or a viewer. Devotees gather in Erumeli and participate in this function. Moreover, this festival and the natural beauty of Erumeli invite tourists to this place during the seasonal time. Palm and teak plantations are the other attraction of this place. Climatic condition is also nice during the festival time.
Swamyeee Saranam Ayyappoo