Go to :  Index File

Sari-clad Kerala males take part in temple festival

     Kollam (Kerala): Males in Kerala's Kollam area recently took part in an exceptional temple ritual called Chamaya Vilakku dressed in saris. The two-day affair took place at the Kottankulangara Temple in Chavara near Kollam after prayers were offered to the Goddess Bhagavathy. Chamaya Vilakku literally means make-up lamp. Kottankulangara Chamayavillaku is a unique festival. Men decked up in sarees come with the thalis (silver or aluminum plates) adorned with earthern lamps to the temple in the night to celebrate the conclusion of the festival, which falls on the 10th and 11th of Meenam of the Malayalam calendar year (end of March of the Gregorian calender). According to legend, a group of shepherd boys used to act as shy girls and offer flowers and a coconut dish called kottan to a stone while playing. One of the boys had a divine reception from Goddess Bhagavathy and subsequently a temple without an outer wall was constructed. This is how this ritual came into existence. People across India come here to offer prayers to Goddess Bhagavathy. Holding a traditional lamp called Chamaya Vilakku, which is mounted on a wooden rod containing five diyas, is the characteristic of this ritual. People come in groups and wait for the procession of the Devi to come. The main offering to the goddess is coconut . They take away Chamaya Villakku (make-up lamp) with them after the event is over. "I came from Agra. I have been regularly praying here for last three years. I really like the spirit of this two-day affair," said a devotee. Most of the men drape themselves in sarees and in traditional Keralite Settu Mundu. Youth also wear chudidar with kurta, lehenga choli, sharara and skirts in various hues.
-Mar 27, 2006