Kerala Tradition & Fascinating Destinations 2014 Kerala Tradition & Destinations 2014 | Page 174

length of 20 km. Rice, coconut and jaggery are brought by women devotees
along with round earthen pots for cooking. The Chief Priest lights the
main hearth from the divine fire inside the sanctum sanctorum. This fire
is exchanged from one oven to another. Every year at the time of lighting
the main hearth an eagle is found to circle far above the sky. This is an
unfailing blessing of the Goddess. The sight of the bird drives the devotees
into an inexplicable feeling of ecstacy. They utter the divine names of the
mother and the atmosphere echoes and reverberates with a thousand
names of the Goddess. Pandrandu Noyampu this is the type of fasting
and prayer which qualifies the devotee for eternal blessings of
Chakkulathamma. This fasting starts every year from the first day of the
Malayalam month of Dhanu till the twelfth. Men and women irrespective
of age, caste or creed can resort to this powerful fasting. They have a
streamlined life with a bath in the early morning and chanting of Devi
mantras as far as possible. They adhere to strict vegetarianism and totally
shun cigarettes or liquors. Brahmacharya or a condition of celibacy is
observed during this period. Chakkulathukave Sree Bhagavathy Temple,
Neerattupuram P.O, Thiruvalla - 689 571. Ph : 0477 2213550
Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple: (11 km South of Alappuzha) Ambalapuzha
was the capital of Chembakassery Kings. In AD 1754, Divan Ramayya
attached this Taluk to Travancore. Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple, built
in typical Kerala architectural style, is an important pilgrim centre for
Hindus. The temple with its office, staff quarters, guest rooms, elephant
yard, bathing pond etc. is spanned over 40 acres of land. There are demigods outside the sanctum sanctorum. The annual festivities in
Ambalapuzha temple present an array of different artefacts like Kathakali,
Kooth, Koodiyattam, Ottam thullal, classical concerts etc. Ambalapuzha is
again popular because of the ‘palpaysam’, a pudding offered to the Lord.
The great poet Kunchan Nambiar spent a major part of his life, including
the last, worshipping Lord Kirshna here. There is a memorial dedicated to
the late poet who invented Thullal, a major artefact of Kerala’s own
heritage.
Boat Races
Alappuzha Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Punnamada : This spectacular
event began in 1952 in connection with the visit of Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru to Alappuzha . Usually this mega boat race is conducted on 2nd
Saturday of August.
Pulinkkunnu Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race - Last Saturday of August.
Champakkulam Moolam Boat Race - Moolam day of Midhunam (July).
Payippadu Jalotsavam - 4th Onam day (August/September)
Neerettupuram Boat Race - Onam Festival Week (August/September)