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Oracles Throng Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple

By Staff

Kodungallur Bhagavathy, Bharani Festival
Worship could also take some of the weirdest forms, yet the worship that comes from the depths of the heart is what true worship is.

A huge crowd thronged at the Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple, Kerala for the Bharani festival (March 26-March 29, 2009). It normally falls between the months of March and April.

A lot of festivities go with the Bharani festival in the Bhagavathy or Goddess Kali temple in Kodungallur.

The Bharani festival normally starts with the ritual called 'Kozhikkallu moodal' which involves the sacrifice of cocks and shedding of their blood which forms an important feature of this temple. The members of the Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple are allowed toparticipate in this ritual. It is to appease the Goddess Kali and her demons who take delight in offering blood.

'Kavu Theendal', another important event of the festival, overseen by the King Of Kodungallur where a hordes of Vellichapads (Oracles) make a made rush around the temple waving their sabre in air while the members of their retinue throw objects including cocks over the inner quadrangle. They make a wild cry of abuse at the Goddess in bawdy language. Their abuse is said to be accepted by the Goddess followed by the purification ceremony the next day..

Madhavan one of the oracle said : "I have been visiting the goddess for more than nine years. I have come here from Palat Kadav, which is very far from here. The blessings of the goddess are always with me, that's why I have been able to attend the festival and become an oracle,"

Chandanapoti Charthal is yet another festival of smearing the image with sandal paste. Unnikrishnan Nambiar, the chief priest of 'Kodungalloor Bhagvathy Temple' said "The Bharani festival attracts thousands of devotees because they have a strong belief in the goddess,"

Goddess Bhagvathy is also worshipped to protect one from diseases like cholera and Chicken pox. It is noteworthy to say that a pilgrimage undertaken to this shrine on this festive occasion, safeguards one from the aforesaid diseases.Does the acceptance of abuses from devotees denote the Divine Mother's patience and forbearance and all the more her unconditional love?

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Story first published: Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 16:08 [IST]