Kappally Kumbham Thira
There is a temple about half a kilometer to the east of the Kappally palayat temple. This is the Kappally temple where the Thira festival is conducted annually from 3rd to 13th of Kumbham (February-March) every year. The most important day of the festivals is the 12th of Kumbham. The ceremonies during the first eight days are known as Vellattom. This includes a festive dance, when the devotees assuming the gulse of the deity, participate in it. The vellattom ceremony starts at 4 PM and goes up to 9 PM every day. On the day of the thira festival, the kurups of the Kappally family to whom this temple belongs proceed from Chakyeri with the temple treasures in a gorgeous procession to the temple. This is followed by another procession in which the sword and shield are carried to the temple. This procession starts from the house of an ancient house. Caparisoned elephants, pipes and drums and tradesmen in their traditional costumes lead the procession. In the rear are blacksmiths, cobblers etc. Though they do not sound any musical instrument in their procession, the cry of triumph of the procession is highly exhilarating.
At about 5 O' clock in the evening starts the thira festival. The man who assumes the gulse of the tutelar deity is led to the temple yard by the Kurups, the patrons of the temple, by clasping his hands. The actor wields a lance. The tandan (the chief of the local Thiyyas), with the liquor goblets and followed at his heels by the actor with the lance, runs around the lamp and the altar. This is known as meeth. The actor who plays the role of the deity, finally snatches the goblet from the Thandan and pretends to drink the liquor (juice of tender coconuts) to the tune of the various musical instruments and cry of victory from the crowd. On that day, representing the Lokamalayarkavu Bhagavathy, the oracle of the temple comes to Kappally flaunting his traditional silken roles and sword. He is received in the Kappally temple with due honour and respect symbolising a grand welcome to Bhagavathy. Various rites of the thira are performed during the whole night and late into the next day. Devotional songs extolling the martial prowess of the goddesses will be recited by the devotees. In addition to the immense congregation, all the members of Kappally family, wherever they are stationed, participate in the festival, offer worship to their goddess and submit their offerings to her.
At about 5 O' clock in the evening starts the thira festival. The man who assumes the gulse of the tutelar deity is led to the temple yard by the Kurups, the patrons of the temple, by clasping his hands. The actor wields a lance. The tandan (the chief of the local Thiyyas), with the liquor goblets and followed at his heels by the actor with the lance, runs around the lamp and the altar. This is known as meeth. The actor who plays the role of the deity, finally snatches the goblet from the Thandan and pretends to drink the liquor (juice of tender coconuts) to the tune of the various musical instruments and cry of victory from the crowd. On that day, representing the Lokamalayarkavu Bhagavathy, the oracle of the temple comes to Kappally flaunting his traditional silken roles and sword. He is received in the Kappally temple with due honour and respect symbolising a grand welcome to Bhagavathy. Various rites of the thira are performed during the whole night and late into the next day. Devotional songs extolling the martial prowess of the goddesses will be recited by the devotees. In addition to the immense congregation, all the members of Kappally family, wherever they are stationed, participate in the festival, offer worship to their goddess and submit their offerings to her.
