Thiruvathira wishes to all friends.......... Observe “UPAVASA” for marital bliss on Thiruvathira day 3rd of Jan 2015, Sunday: Thiruvathira Festival is observed on the Thiruvathira Nakshatram day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu Masam. Thiruvathira is essentially womens festival. On Thiruvathira Day wives worship Lord Shiva and fast for the welfare of their husband. This encompasses prayers for his life longevity, togetherness, quick reunions or fame of their beloved husband. Unmarried girls also fast on Thiruvathira to get a good husband. On the Thiruvathira day women should take bath early morning and worship lord Shiva. On that day they should completely avoid rice meal and eat only preparations of wheat and other items of food including plantain fruits, tender coconuts, etc. ”THIRUVATHIRA PUZHUKKU” is the special dish prepared on that day. Married women and girls do upavasa (fasting) on that day, and sing and dance. On Thiruvathira day night, women keep vigil for Shiva and perform THIRUVATHIRA KALI OR KAIKOTTIKALI. Thiruvathirakali is a celebration of marital fidelity and the female energy. And it is believed that such a performance brought Kamadeva (the god of love) back to life after he was reduced to ashes by the ire of Lord Siva.. Women stand in a circle around nilavilakku and dance each step at the rhythm of the songs they sing, clapping their hands. Another popular custom on the day is known as the Pathirappoochoodal, meaning wearing of flowers at midnight. At the midnight of Thiruvathira, an image of Lord Shiva is placed at the central courtyard and flowers, plantains and jaggery are offered to the deity. They then perform Kaikottikali round the deity. Flowers are taken from the offering and worn by them. The first Thiruvathira coming after the marriage of a girl is known as Puthen Thiruvathira or Poothiruvathira Another legend associated with this festival is that with Narada Maharshi’s advice, Rugmini Devi followed the fast following Sree Parvati, to become Lord Krishna’s bride. In accordance with Narada’s advice, Gopikas in Vrindavanam also opted for Karthiyayani fast during Hemantha season. They longed to have Lord Krishna as their husband, made an idol of Goddess Karthiyayani and prayed for a mandala season(41 days), which yielded result in merging of their spirits and souls into the Lord on the moon lit night of Thiruvathira. Bhagawan joined them in Rasakreeda and with Lord as the centre; they danced on the banks of river Yamuna.For this, Gopikas took early baths in river Kalindhi, during the Saraswathi yama; singing hymns and tapping on the water, splashing rhythmically; praising the Lord. They conducted worship with wild flowers, submitted “naivedhyam” with cooked tubers in jaggery, swinging and fasting …All these rituals have later become the customs of Thiruvathira.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 14:23:19 +0000
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