Kerala gears up for grand Navratri celebrations

navratri

Nedumbassery: The various temples and pilgrim centres in Kerala are all set to celebrate this year's Navratri with devotional fervour and delightful festivities. The Navratri festivities at the Avanamkode Saraswati temple begin today. The temple, where Sankaracharya himself was initiated into the world of letters, would witness huge crowds turning up for the Vidyaramban ceremony.

There would be special pujas and music concerts, every day, to mark the sacred occasion of the Navratri. Besides, the Avanamkode temple is known for conducting Vidyarambam ceremonies or initiating young children into the work of letters and knowledge every day during the Navratri festival. This year, elaborate facilities have been arranged for the devotees who turn up in huge numbers for Vidyaramban on the Vijayadasami day.

Navratri festival committee members Biju Karnan, MP Narayanan Moothamana, Krishnan Nambeesan, Sudeep Moothamana and Sajeesh Radhakrishnan informed that the devotees could place their books, musical instruments and chilanka (anklet tied on dancer’s feet) for pooja or worship in front of the deity.

Actor Dileep would inaugurate the Navratri festivities at the Avanamkode temple at 5 o clock this evening.

As part of the special Navratri rituals, nirmalyam, mahabishakam, abishekams and dwadeshakshari laksharchana would be conducted every morning at 5. This would be followed by usha vaivedyam at 6 am and ethritha pooja at 7 am. The nadaturakkal ceremony would be held at 4.30 pm, followed by an elaborate deeparaddhana at 6.30 pm.

There would be tayambaka concert by Cheranallur Shankarankutty Marar at 6.30 pm and veena concert by Biju Annamanada at 7.30 pm on 29th September.

On 30th September, there would be classical dance performance at 5 pm, sangeetha sudha at 6.30 pm and bhaktigana sudha at 8.30 pm. Meanwhile, on 1st October, the devotees can enjoy sangeetha aradhana at 5 pm and musical concert by Dinesh Namboothiri at 7 pm.

On 2nd October, the festivities begin with a vaay pattu at 8 am, classical dance at 10 am followed by a sangeetha aradhana. There would be tayambaka concert at 4.30 in the evening, classical dance at 6 pm and music concert at 7 pm.

3rd October – classical dance at 6 pm, bharatanatyam repertoire at 7 pm and sangeetha sudha at 8 pm.

4th October – Sangeetha aradhana at 4 pm, veena concert at 7 pm.

5th October – Music concert at 7 am, Sangeetha Aradhana at 9 am, veena concert at 5 pm, music concert at 6 pm followed by a saxophone concert at 7 pm.

6th October – Bhajans at 6 am, sangeetha aradhana at 9 am followed by another concert at 11 am; Bharatanatyam repertoire at 5 pm, classical dance at 6 pm and followed by nritya sandya at 7 pm.

7th October – Music concert at 7 am, talk by Swami Udith Chaitanya at 8 am, sangeetha Aradhana at 10 am, double tayambaka concert at 4 pm, Nritha Aradhana at 4.30 pm, music concert at 5.30 pm, divyanama tharangini at 6.30 pm and a Bharatanatyam repertoire at 7.30 pm.

On the final day of the Navratri festival (8th October), the Nirmalyam ceremony would be held at 3.30 am followed by the Vidyaramban from 4.30 am onwards. There would be music concert at 7 am, Sangeetha Aradhana at 8 am followed by one more session of Sangeetha Aradhana. The programs in the evening begins with Nritha Aradhana at 3 pm, Sangeetha Aradhana at 5 pm and Pancharatnam at 6 pm.

Kalady

The annual Sree Sarada Navratri festival at the Adisankara Keerthisatamba Manadapam too begins today and ends on 8th October, the Vijayadashami day. On the festival days, there would be Ganapati Homam ceremonies at 6 am, Devi mahatmaya parayanam at 7 am, Sahasra Namarchana at 8 am and Sangeetha Aradhana at 6.30 in the evenings.

There would be special vigneshwara pooja oat 7am, Sreesookta Homam, Maha Sankalpam and |Nava Varna pooja on 3rd October.

On 4th October, the devotees can take part in the Chandika Homam, Kanyaka pooja, Suhasini pooja, Brahmachari pooja and Vasordhara.

There would be an elaborate and colourful exhibition of the bomma kolu (festive display of dolls and figurines) on all days of the Navratri festival. The kolu would be displayed at specially erected stands in the Keerthi Stamba Mandapam. More than 200 figurines in various colours and shapes have been arranged near the Aadisankara Paduka (feet) Prathishta. There are dolls and figurines of Gods and Goddesses, kings, great sages, small models of temples and shapes of animals and birds as well. The figurines on the first three stands depict Goddess Devi's expression of knowledge and wisdom; the next three celebrates her incarnation as the Goddess of wealth and good fortune and the figurines on the following three shelves portray Devi in all her regal glory. The Nivedyam and Deeparadhana rituals would be conducted every morning and evening to worship and pay respects to the figurines in the Bomma Kolu.

Karippaserry

The Navratri festival and the Navabhava Darshanam Chandanam Charthal at the famous Karippaserry Durga Devi temple would be held from 29th September to 8th October. The festivities would be inaugurated by the chief priest Mattapilli Manakkal Narayanan Namboothiripad. Pattom Theyam Manakal Sankaran Namboothiripad and chief priest Eravimangalathu Narayanan Namboothiri would take part in the special rituals conducted in the temple.

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