CHETTIKULANGARA KUMBHA-BHARANI KETTU KAZHCHA....

               

                                  

                        

                       CHETTIKULANGARA KUMBHA-BHARANI KETTU KAZHCHA

       Kettukazhcha is an offering of people of the 13 karas to their deity to thank for favors received as well as to seek her blessings. Chettikulangara kettukazhcha consists of six huge and heavily decorated temple cars known as ‘Kuthira’ (Horses), five smaller temple cars known Theru’ (Chariots) and effigies of Bhima, Hanuman and Panchali.

KUTHIRA:

       Although Kuthira means horse the temple cars have no similarity with horses and the origin of the name is still unknown. Kuthiras are the bigger of the temple cars and have a height of about 70 to 75 feet. Bottom most part of the Kuthira is called Adikkottu or Vandikkoottu. It is the basic foundation on which the rest of the parts rests on. It is a platform having four big wooden wheels, interconnected by wooden beams. Attached to the platform are two huge wooden poles ('Thandu'), used to steer the Kuthira. Above the adikkottu there is Kuthirakal with a height of 35 feet, consists of four long poles. They are interconnected with Arecanut poles('Alaku') and further strengthened with crisscross formation of Alakus(‘Kuthukathrika’)fastened by coir and Panavalli knots. Bottom part of the Kuthirakkal, called 'adikoodaram' consist of four to five extended layers of slanting box pyramids ('Thattu' and 'Charippu'), then decorated with white cloth('Vella'), colourful glittering clothes and embellishments(‘Thookku’). Above the adikoodaram there is Prabhada. Prabhada is the most magnificent part of the kuthira. It consist of carved wooden sculptors narrating tales like krishnaleela, Gajendramoksham, etc... in the middle of there is elephant caparisons('Nettipattoms'). Although the prabhada gives the impression that it is carved on a single wood, is actually composed of small carefully assembled fragments. Positioned above the prabhada, Edakoodaram is almost half the size of Kathirakal with four to five Charippu made as in the lower portion, comes above the Kathirakal. It also has glittering different clothes and Vella, interlaced with colourful Thookku embellishments. On top of the Kuthira there is Melkkoodaram, pyramidal in shape, melkkoodaram of Chettikulangara Kutira is four faced Kumbhathoppi, not the three face Pallimukham. A white wooden pole ('Nambu') extends from the top of the Melkkoodaram. In Koothira the size from top to bottom is almost same except for the prabhada in between.

THERU:-

         Theru means chariot but they resemble pagodas rather than chariots. Theru is smaller than Kuthiras they do not have Prabhada and Edakkoodaram. They have bigger Charippu and prominent illithattu in between Charippu. They diminish in size upwards.

HANUMAN:-

          Mattom south kara brings wooden effigy of Hanuman. Human effigy depicts Hanuman in the court of Ravana. Kadalipazham garland is an offering for Hanuman.

PANCHALI:-

          Panchali effigy is also brought by Mattom south Kara. The effigy depicts Panchali, clad in ornaments, waiting for Bhima who went to gather Kalyanasougandikkam flower.Silk is an offering to panchali.

BHIMA :-

Mattom North bring a massive three and half tonne wooden effigy of Bhima. The effigy depects Bhima riding Bullock cart en route to kill demon Baka.

                              

                             www.chettikulangarabhairavisamiti.blogspot.com

                             www.facebook.com/chettikulangarabhairavi

                             email:   chettikulangarabhairavi@gmail.com

                             google.plus/chettikulangarabhairavi