Chirayinkeesh, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. 30th March, 2017. Meenabharani festival going on with Garudan thookkam in the morning at Sarkara Devi temple, Chirayinkeesh, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Credit: vincy lopez/Alamy Live News
The festival of Meenabharani is celebrated for ten days and it is believed that on the tenth day the benevolent Goddess appears and showers her blessings on the devotees. The Meenabharani festival generally starts with Kodiyettu (flag hoisting), nine days before the asterism of Bharani which is considered as the birth star of Sarkaradevi. It ends on the tenth day with Arat (holy immersion) of the deity in the temple tank. There are very interesting ceremonies connected with this festival. On all days recital of the exploits of the Goddess is staged by special teams of people. On the ninth day an important function is conducted in this temple known as Pallivetta. It is believed that during this function Sarkara devi disappears from the temple and she went for hunting. The Goddess is taken in procession as for hunting with the accompaniment of five caparisoned elephants and firetorches to the Bhagavathy palace. Through this hunting she tried to avoid powers of malice and maintain peace and security in this vicinity. During the earlier period animal sacrifices were conducted along with this performance. However, animal sacrifices were avoided during the later periods. Now this function ends with the return procession of the deity and the cutting of a coconutwith a bow and arrow. After that the ceremonial Arat of the deity is conducted. Prem Nazir given one elephant to the Sarkara Devi Temple. There are various views and related stories are about Sarkara of peoples are coming here in the festival season. Various lands are bringing various festival shows in Meenabharani days. During that days complete Chirayinkeezhu Thaluk is filled with all devotees. It is a land of God and all are calling Goddess as "Sarakara Ponnammachi"
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