Meet the duo orchestrating rituals at Payyannur temple

At the Payyannur Subramanya Swami Temple, where the Aradhana festival is in full swing, M V Sivaprasad and V Gireesh Kumar are the hands behind the rituals, overseeing the Kazhakam Pravarthi that keeps the temple’s ceremonial traditions alive.

At the temple, Kazhakam Pravarthi is divided into two main categories: Poovan and Kazhakam. The Poovan duties include collecting flowers for the five daily poojas, making 21 garlands including the ceremonial Vanamala on a daily basis, and preparing 24 to 54 additional garlands for temple decoration.

Kazhakam responsibilities, on the other hand, cover temple cleaning, maintaining the Pani Vilakku, cleaning the Appam Koozham vessels), preparing Pura Nivedyam (offerings), and overseeing rituals like Navakam and Neelanjanam. These Poovan and Kazhakam duties rotate between the two at the start of each Malayalam month.

M V Sivaprasad, a native of Kadannappally, began his journey in Kazhakam at the Vellalahu Siva Temple in Kadannappally. He later took up similar roles at the Karivelloor Mahadeva Temple and the Guruvayurappan Temple at Kolkata.Having taken up the responsibility of organising kalasham and festivals both inside and outside Kerala, he assumed charge of Kazhakam at the Kolkata Temple and served there for eight years. In March 2017, he joined the Payyannur Subrahmanya Swami Temple.

V Gireesh Kumar, a native of Banthadukka, started as a Kazhakam at the Banthadukka Subramanya Swami Temple and continued while pursuing his studies at the Velakkunnu Siva Temple. A postgraduate in Economics and Malayalam with a B.Ed in Social Studies, he has also served as a guest teacher for Plus Two students at GHHS Pandi, GHSS Edneer, and GHSS Banthadukka. He joined the Payyannur temple in February 2020.