Thalappoli Maholsavam 2009 celebrated in simple way

Thalappoli Maholsavam 2009 celebrated at Nayarambalam Bhagavathi Temple in simple manner. Festival finished on February 2nd 2009. (20 Makaram 1184). It was a coulourless festival. The crowd was so small especially women and children. There were no fireworks and few elephants. Only three caparisoned elephants were there in the Pakalpooram. Thayampaka and Panchavadya troops were not no.1 rated ones as previous years. There were no notices or advertisement banners released in connection with the festival.

In the previous year, the festival was troubled in the last minutes due to an elephant turned violent against the crowd. After a few hours, the gathered mob turned violent against the temple volunteers and the police charged against them. The mob demolished furniture and temple properties within that time.

This year’s festival was done without any extra ornamentation. It may be due to the last year’s turbulences. Anyway, I think this is better way for a temple festival. No complex colours. Keep simple. Few elephants. Good Chenda. Good Panchavadya. No fireworks. Why should we spend more? Give stage to good temple art. Hope Nayarambalam Bhagavathy Temple will show a model on this to other temples and churches…

ഏതായാലും നായരമ്പലം ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ ഇത്തവണത്തെ ഉല്‍സവം യഥാര്‍ത്ഥത്തില്‍ നാട്ടുകാരോന്നും അറിഞ്ഞില്ല എന്ന് തന്നെ പറയാം. കഴിഞ്ഞ തവണത്തെ ഉല്‍സവത്തോടനുബന്ധിസുണ്ടായ പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്‍ മൂലം ആണ് ഇത്തവണ ചുരുക്കി ആഘോഷിച്ചത്എന്നാണ് ജനസംസാരം

Pooram: some side shots

Just_watch_the_rear_side_of_pooram :-)

Ezhunnullippu

Thatlappoli Festival: Theeyattu

Nayarambalam Bhagavathy Temple Festival (Thalappoli Utsavam) starts with Theeyattu. It is ritualistic art which is presented as if Bhadrakali is reporting the incidents leading to the killing of Darikasura to her father, Lord Siva, represented here by the lighted torch.
The performance part of the art is done by a single actor called Theeyattunni. He enters the venue, lighted by a huge oil torch, with the make up of Goddess Bhadrakali, minus the headgear. He chants several hymns invoking the benevolence of various gods for the success of the performance and welfare of the audience. He wears the huge headgear in front of the audience. From that moment onwards he represents the goddess.
The performance develops through several chants, dances of thandava style, gestures and gesticulations. The gestures are rarely in strict accordance with Hastha Mudras of classical dance. The script, prose or verse, of the goddess is rendered by the actor, whereas all others are rendered by one of the accompanists.
The act is concluded by the enacting of the killing of Darikasura, representing the destruction of evil.

Anti-climax to Thalappoli Mahotsavam

Thalappoli Mahotsavam 2008 turned violent in the last hours of Pooram. One of the elephants provoked another, and the feared beast turned violent and ran towards the crowd. Lots of people got minor injuries. There were 11 caparisoned elephants including Guruvayoor Valiya Kesavan, Nayarambalam Rajasekharan, Nayarambalam Balakrishnan were lined up in the Pooram. Guruvayoor Valiya Kesavan was carrying Thidambu of Bhagavathy. Just before some hours to finish the festival, one of the elephants - Nayarambalam Balakrishnan - provoked Nayarambalam Rajashekharan. The feared elephant ran towards the spectators.

I was on the rear side of the temple, just engaged in shooting some side-shots of the festival with some friends and their kids. Suddenly I found the crowd was running horribly against us... We also fled to a safe place... The real troubles were starting. Immediately after this, a mike announcement informed the people that the situation is under control, so stay the same position where they are. But one of the elephants was again turned violent. It was Nayarambalam Rajashekharan. He ran horridly towards the gathered crowd... So many people got minor injuries in this time.
The first time in the history of Nayarambalam Bhagavathy Temple, the festival turned turbulent. There were only a five or six cops in the ground. They could not do anything to take the whole control over the situation. Meanwhile the gathered mob turned violent and they demolished the office stationeries of Devaswam Office. And they unleashed violence towards the office bearers of the Devaswam Board. The police could do just watch the incidents.




Nayarambalam Rajasekharan ran to eastwards. And its mahouts were trying to calm down the beast some kilometers away. Hundreds of people took refuge in the school hall and other safe shelters. But some criminals intruded there to rob and dishonour ladies. Somebody tried to get them out. Immediately after that they started allegation against Karayogam Officials that they were denied safe shelter. The mob turned violent again. They started demolishing furniture, electric accessories etc. To control this, police started Lati charge against them. So many people got injuries during the charge. Some people fired a patrol bike of Police only some feet afar where fireworks boxes were set. It would have been a horrible accident if a spark of fire reached the fireworks boxes.

This is the story of the anti-climax of a great festival.

Official site of the temple

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The official site of Nayarambalam Bhagavathy temple http://www.nayarambalambhagavathy.com was started on 28/01/2002. The site was inaugurated by popular Malayalam playback singer Mr. Biju Narayanan. The site provides comprehensive information on the temple.

Map of the Temple

BHAGAVATHY VILASOM HIGH SCHOOL (BVHS), NAYARAMBALAM

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Bhagavathy Vilasam High School : Established on 1925 under the management of Nayarambalam Nair Karayogam. It may be the first UP/High school in Nayarambalam Kara. The school was begun with the basic facilities for an upper primary school in a temporary shed and was upgrade to a High School in its own permanent building. Today the school is upgraded to first grade Higher secondary School offering finest quality education.
In 2000-2001 BVHS celebrated its platinum Jubilee. In memory of the occasion, a two storied building was inagurated by the Honorable Educational Minister Sri. Nalakath Soupy on 23rd December 2001.

Ramankulangara Temple

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This is Ramankulangara Temple. This temple was managed by Paliyat Achan in ancient times. Those times there were a trial by red-hot iron or molten lead ordeal used to be held till about the eighteenth century. In the temple entrance the accused has to hold a red-hot iron or molten lead drop to his palm. If he burns, he will be judged as a culprit. But unfortunately no survival were reported.

For more info:
Cochin State Manual by C.Achutha Menon

In ancient times this temple was managed by Paliyam Royal Family. Paliyath Achan was directly involved in the festival of this temple. But when the Royal family was divided the temple administration gone to a trust organized by them. Later in recent times the trust has transferred the administration to local Karayogam.
Festival is observed in Punartham in Kumbha (normally in February-March)

Notes: Veliyathamparampu is a local territory of Nayarambalam. This temple has some connections with Bhagavathy Temple Nayarambalam. I say this because, during the Talappoli Ulsavam is being celebrated, some temple men carries prasadam or something like that to Ramankulangara Temple from Nayarambalam Bhagavathy Temple. This sight I was seeing since my childhood days. It was on night times, in the escort of some men with Changalavatta and Kolvilakku etc. But I don't know the purpose of the journey.
ദേവിയുടെ അനുഗ്രഹം നാട്ടിലെ നാനാ ദിക്കുകളിലേക്കും വിതരണം ചെയ്യുവാനാണ് ഈ യാത്ര എന്ന് ചില ആളുകള്‍ പറയുന്നു. ഒരു ചെണ്ടയും വിളക്കേന്തിയ കുറെ ആളുകളും ഇരുട്ടില്‍ എങ്ങോട്ടോ പോകുന്നു. ഈ കാഴ്ച ചെറുപ്പത്തില്‍ എന്തോ നിഗൂഡമായ ഒരു അനുഭവമാണ് എന്നില്‍ ഉണ്ടാക്കിയിരുന്നത്.

REAR SIDE OF NAYARAMBALAM BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE

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Rear side of the Bhagavathy Temple.

NAGA YAKSHI

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Yakshithara is situated near the eastern side of the temple, outside the Nalambalam and the orbitting way. The idol is sculpted in rock. Palpayasam, Pattucharthal, Manjapodi Vella nedyam are the main offerings of the shrine.

SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF NAYARAMBALAM BHAGAVATHY

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This is Bhagavathy Temple, Nayarambalam. One of the most important temples of Vypeen Island and Ernakulam District. In this blog, I wish to post some photographs of Nayarambam Bhagavathy Temple. And I request to the readers to share the legends and background stories of related with this temple. I am not aware about this completely...