The Thiruvathira festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira in the
Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). The origin of the festival
is shrouded in obscurity. The people celebrate this festival upon
age-old tradition and they do it with great joy and respect for the
past. The Ardra Darshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu corresponds to Thiruvathira
of Kerala. It is considered to be high auspicious to worship Siva
and the devotees go to the temple before sunrise for 'darshan'. Apart
from the worship in the Siva temple, there is very little celebration
in the houses. Tradition has it that Thiruvathira festival is celebrated
in commemoration of the death of Kamadeva, the mythological God of
love. According to another version Thiruvathira is the birth day of
Lord Siva.
Even though
the Thiruvathira is celebrated by most of the Hindu communities it
is essentially a Nair women's get up at about 4 am and take bath on
seven days commencing form the asterism Aswathi. While taking bath
they sing certain songs mostly relating to the God of Love, accompanied
by rhythmic sound produced by splashing water with their fists. In
conclusion they stand in a circle in the water hand in hand singing
songs. Thiruvathira is a day of fasting and the women discard the
ordinary rice meal on that day, but only take preparations of chama
(panicum milicceum) or wheat. Other items of their food include plantain
fruits, tender coconuts, etc. They also chew betel and redden their
lips. Among Namboodiris, Ambalavasis(temple-servants) and high class
Nairs, there is a convention that each woman should chew 108 betels
on that day. The first Thiruvathira coming after the marriage of a
girl is known as Puthen Thiruvathira or Poothiruvathira and it is
celebrated on a grand scale.
From prehistoric
times, Malayalee woman enjoyed an enviable position in the society,
and she was practically the mistress of her house. The elevated position
she occupied at home and in the society had distinguished her from
and in the society had distinguished her from her neighbours and influenced
to a considerable extent the social structure, customs and religious
practices of the people. The culmination of this phenomenon is clearly
visible in setting apart one of the three great festivals of Kerala
viz. Thiruvathira, exclusively for womenfolk, for which a parallel
can hardly be found in any section of the Indian Society.
Oonjalattom,
swinging on an oonjal (swing) is an item of amusement on this occasion.
At night the women keep vigil for Siva and perform Thiruvathira kali
or Kaikottikali. They stand in a circle around lighted brass lamp,
and dance each step at the rhythm of the songs they sing, clapping
their hands. The songs sometimes consist of Kathakali songs including
the works of Irayimman Thampi.
Among Namboodiris
and Amblavasis (temple servants) and Bairs who have close association
with Namboodiris , there is custom called Pathirappoochoodal, Meaning
wearing of flowers at midnight . At the midnight of Thiruvathira,
an image of Siva is placed at the central courtyard and flowers, plantains
and jaggery are offered to the deity. They then perform Kaikottikali
round the deity. Flowers are taken from the offering and worn by them.
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