Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram, is a 300-year-old Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

temple on the banks of the Achankovil river

Achankovil River

The Achankovil Aar is a river in Kerala, India, formed towards the southern tip of the peninsula from the streams of the Rishimala River, Pasukidamettu River, and the Ramakkalteri River. This river enriches the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state. It joins with the Pamba River at Veeyapuram,...

in Vazhamuttom

Vazhamuttom

Vazhamuttom is a village township near to Pathanamthitta City in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India..Vazhamuttom is famous for the ancient Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram."Padayani" performances are held at the temple annually...

, Pathanamthitta District

Pathanamthitta district

Pathanamthitta district is the youngest district located in the southern part of the state of Kerala, India. The district headquarters is in Pathanamthitta town. The district is surrounded by Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Kollam districts. It has a border with the state of Tamil Nadu in the east...

in Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. The Devi

Devi

Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...

(goddess) is the main deity here.
.

The Padayani

Padayani

Padayani, also called Padeni, is a traditional folk dance from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples...

held in the month of Kumbham is very famous. Padayani performances are held at the temple annually. Padayani songs are very ancient folklore of Kerala.
These folk-dances are traditionally preserved in this part of Kerala.

A Paraezhunnellippu is held in the Malayalam month of Kumbham that ends on the Vishu

Vishu

Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi , according to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal equinox...

day in the month of Medam. The Paraezhunnellippu is spread all over Vazhamuttom east, Vazhamuttom, Pramadam, Mullanikadu and Vallicode

Vallicode

Vallicode is a village in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India.It is a beautiful village situated at about 7 km from the district head quarters of Pathanamthitta at south - east direction....

. The Parazhumallippu will cover every Hindu family in those localities. The devotees have this occasion to present as offerings, tender coconuts and seeds.

The temple is also famous for the folk arts and the "Kettukaazhcha" procession with Kaala (bull motif) and Kuthira vela (horse motif).

Folklore is that Thazhoor Bhagavathy is the sister of Valamchuzhy Devi

Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzhy

Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzy is one of the oldest temples in Pathanamthitta, South India.-Location:The temple is from the city centre. Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple is surrounded by the sacred river Achankovil, which has its origin in the Achankovil mountain ranges. The name "Valamchuzy" is...

. The temple is also a chosen premise for many wedding ceremonies with people coming in to conduct marriage rituals.

Kumbha Pongala

The Pongala celebration commences on the morning of Kumbham 1. The women, dressed in traditional clean costumes for the occasion, offer Naivedyam to the goddess with their bare hands. The Goddess (Amma) accepts the offerings from thousands of devotees. It is believed that viewing Amma in all her glory at this time will free one from all sins and evils.

Kumbha Pongala

See also