Peruvanam Pooram is the annual festival observed at the Shiva Temple at Peruvanam near Cherpu in Thrissur District in Kerala. The
famous pooram festival in the shrine is observed in Kumbham month. Peruvanam
Pooram 2024 date is March 20. It is observed on the Punartham Nakshatra in Meena Masam.
The highlight of the festival is caparisoned elephants,
melam and fireworks. The utsava murti worshipped in the temple is taken around atop
a caparisoned elephant, which is accompanied by another five elephants. Several unique rituals and pujas are performed during the
festival period. Traditional Kerala temple performing arts, music, songs and other cultural
activities are held during the period.
The panchari melam in the shrine begins at midnight and
continues for four hours.
The deity of Peruvanam temple, Irattayappan., does not participate in the pooram, and is a silent spectator to the proceedings. The participation is limited to temples of Devi and Sastha in the region. It is said that the festival used to witness participation from 108 temples. Presently, the festivities consist of processions (called Ezhunnallippu) from few temples.
History Of Peruvanam Pooram
In ancient times, Peruvanam Pooram was held for 28 days starting from Uthram nakshatra in Kumbha Masam to Uthram nakshatra in Meena Masam at Irattayappan temple. There used to be various rituals and during pujas on all the days of the festival. Valiya Vilakku was the most important day of the festival.
Once during the temple festival, the main priest was performing the Bali ritual. He happened to hear a bad news while performing the ritual. He had to immediately stop the ritual. From that day the festival was stopped at Peruvanam temple.
After several years it was decided by the villagers to conduct a special festival on the earlier Valiya Vilakku day. All the deities of the in the nearby region where invited to the Peruvanam temple. The deities from various temples arrived on the day and started paying obeisance to Irattayappan.
It is said in ancient times 108 deities, 56 kingdoms and thousands of people used to participate in the Peruvanam Pooram. It is said that there was no pooram like the Peruvanam Pooram.
Various Temples Participating In Peruvanam Pooram
The first deity to arrive at the temple for pooram is the Bhagavathy from the Pisharikkal temple at Katalassery. She arrives with a single caparisoned elephant. All other deities enter the temple only after Pisharikkal Devi pays her obeisance and exits the temple.
The first main Pooram on the festival days is of Arattupuzha Sastha. The
deity arrives at the temple through the southern gopuram before sunset. Seven elephants decorated with exquisite ornaments stand
in a row facing north are exposed to the rays of the setting sun. An
elaborate Pandi Melam commences immediately and after about 30 minutes the deity moves
towards the eastern gopuram and enters the walkway facing
east. The Pandi Melam continues there which lasts till 10 PM.
Meanwhile Chatthakkutam Sastha would have assembled with seven decorated elephants at
the eastern end of the walkway and started an elaborate Panchari Melam,
just after 7:30 PM. Thottippal Bhagavathy accompanies Chatthakkutam Sastha on the
adjoining elephant to the left. It lasts until about 10:30 PM. All this time, Arattupuzha Sastha would be
waiting at the eastern end of the walkway to return to the Peruvanam
temple. Two other Sastha, of Metankulam and Kalleli, join Him at that
time. The three ascend the walkway with a Panchari Melam.
The Pooram of Ammathiruvadi starts from the same eastern side of the
walkway, right behind that of Chatthakkutam Sasthat even before that comes to an
end. The actual Panchari Melam commences only after that of Chatthakkutam comes to an end.
Then, Chatthakkutam Sastha joins Ammathiruvadi on an elephant to the
right. The Melam goes even beyond midnight. This is followed by
fireworks, lit right in front of the deity on the walkway.
Cherpil Bhagavathy is the last to enter the Peruvanam temple But, the deity
would have arrived by midnight, along the road from the temple which is
about a mile away, at the turning to the Thayamkulangara
Subrahmanya Swamy temple. There a Panchavadyam commences just after 11:30 PM. The procession of three elephants,
accompanied by Panchavadyam would slowly move towards the Mekkavu Kali
temple. The Panchavadyam comes to an end there before 3 AM. A Pandi
Melam starts there and the procession enters the Peruvanam temple
through the western Gopuram. The Melam lasts for an hour.
here is a
ritual at that time of asking whether there are any other temples which
want to perform a Pooram. Cherpil Bhagavathy is supposed to be the last
to perform. Hence, the question. Ayyunnu Bhagavathy would join the
procession at this time and the two deities on an elephant each, with
other five elephants, move towards the eastern side of the temple. That
is where the famous Panchari Melam starts soon after 4 AM. After an hour or so, the procession moves
towards the walkway facing east. The melam lasts until about 7 AM in the morning. Viewing the array of seven caparisoned elephants under the
rays of the rising sun is a thrilling experience of the Peruvanam Pooram.
Vilakku On Peruvanam Pooram
One of the important attractions of Peruvanam Pooram takes place
within the temple of Irattayappan inside Peruvanam temple at midnight. This is relatively an
unnoticed event of the night. Eleven of the fourteen deities who do not
have their own elaborate Pooram on the night would arrive on elephants while the other Poorams are in progress.
They all come
to the temple, pay homage to the deity of Irattayappan by going around
inside the temple yard and then alight from the elephant. The Kolam
would then be lead to the Mandapam of Irattayappan where each has
specific spot to rest.
At midnight they all mount their own elephants
and form an array outside the western entrance to Irattayappan. The
respective oil lamps which lead the deities from their temples to
Peruvanam also form an array in front of the elephants. The drummers
(Marars) and other supporting percussionists from the respective temples
then start an elaborate Panchari Melam. At midnight with no artificial
light, the event called a ‘Vilakku’ has a mesmerizing
effect.
The festival concludes with a ritual bath at the temple pond, called
Thotukulam. Each deity performs the bath immediately after the
conclusion of their respective festival rituals.
