Kallar Vettu in Karkuvel Ayyanar Temple, Kuthiraimozhi, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Kallar Vettu is Temple festival held in Karthigai Month in Karkuvel Temple.
Karkuvel Ayyanar is a regional male deity whose worship is popular in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Karkuvel ayyanar temple is situated in the Therikudiyiruppu village, near Kayamozhi in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. This temple lies at a distance of just 14 kilometers from Thiruchendur and is approximately 500–1000 years old. The main festival in Karkuvel Ayyanar Temple is the “Kallar Vettu.” A huge crowd gathers at this place to celebrate this festival. The temple is surrounded by red sand.
This Ayyanar temple is located in the western part of the village of Therikudiyiruppu, which is near the famous Thiruchendur temple. On the last three days of the Tamil month of Karthigai (November–December), a grand festival is celebrated commemorating the beheading of the robber, called the “Kallar Vettu ‘’. The first two days of this festival are dedicated to Ayyanar, who is a vegetarian deity. As part of this festival celebration, the folklore of Ayyanar is presented as Vilu Pattu (bow music). After this, the priests of the fifteen subsidiary deities bring items from the temple fair. Three hands full of these items were gifted to these musicians.
Later, a red-colored coconut is kept over a rope, symbolizing Ayyanar, and is cut. Previously, there was a practice of cutting the coconut kept over the Samiyadi of Ayyanar. Villagers prepare a dish called Pongal in front of the Ayyanar temple as their offering. On the third day, animals are sacrificed to please the subsidiary gods of this temple. The day of Panguni Uthiram (March–April) is also celebrated as a revered festival.
It is a way of life. In Hinduism, rituals are performed to bring spirituality into human life and inculcate feelings of devotion and religiosity. Rituals are not only celebrated during life but continue after death, including burial and cremation practices, so the rituals are very important for our lives. There are many temples that celebrate their rituals, and you can stay in good hotels to connect the festivities with family members.
“OM SRI KARKUVELAVA KUMARAVELAVA SHIVAVADIVELAVA SARANAM”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR