The Four Day Kumbhapura Mahotsavam Festival of the Sri Durga Ganapathy Bhadrakali Temple was held in Kumily from the 4th to the 7th of March 2023 under the guidance and supervision of Thanthri Maharishi Rajive.
The Highlights of the First Day was the Pongal Offering by innumerable rows of women of Kumily and their families early that morning. Offering Pongal to the Goddess is an important part of worship in this Kaliyug. The Offering is meant to seek the intervention of the Goddess to protect, nourish and prosper the families of the women who cook the Pongal.
Anna dhanam or feeding of the Community was also organised in the afternoon. After performing the various poojas and rituals throughout the day the evening programme included a religious discourse by Brahmashri UnniKrishnan Namboodri and concluded with Religious Songs by the Cherthala Brothers.
The Highlights of the second day of the Festival were the Maha Ganapathy Homam and the Ayilya Pooja. The evening witnessed the dance performance of the team led by Sandhya Dani Pidigapurambil of Puttady followed by Thiruvathirai of the Temple’s Mahila Sangh and a spiritual discourse by Shailaja Ravindran of Kottayam. The day’s event culminated in the “Vaimozhi Naatarivu”.
The third Day of the Festival witnessed customary rituals including the Maha Ganapathy Homam. The day ended on a bright note with the Mega Show put up by Cochin Masth which included songs, dance and comedy performances.
The Highlight of the Fourth and concluding Day of the festival was the Fireworks display and the procession from eight different places which merged together at the Shri Dharmasastha Temple to then move towards the Shri Durga Ganapathy Badrakali Temple in Kumily. The procession was accompanied by Panchavathiyam, Nadhaswaram, Chenda Melam, Theyyam, Karagattam, Trissur Pookavadi, Depictions of Village arts and included Mullapari as well as children carrying the sacred Thiruvillaku lamps. The Goddess was received with traditional honours by the households and business establishments enroute to the Temple.
The festival was a resounding success and was well organised by the Devaswom elders with the involvement of the entire community which rejoiced and praised the Almighty.
Photographs Courtesy: Fashion Wedding Studio, Kumily
