Colourful start to Vrichikotsavam

A variety of traditional art forms marked the first day of the  Vrischikotsavam festival at the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple here on Monday.

The ‘Brahma Kalasha’ ritual held in the morning marked the start of the festival activities. Processions of 15 caparisoned elephants which included ‘Nanu Ezhuthachan Sreenivasan’, ‘Pampady Rajan’, ‘Thiruvambadi Chandrasekaran’ and ‘Shenoy Chandrasekhara’ provided a visual extravaganza to hundreds of devotees who had thronged the temple from the early morning hours.

The three-hour-long Pancharimelam led by  Chenda maestro Peruvanam Kuttan Marar enlivened the festival.

Ottamthullal by Vayalar Krishnankutty, Vechoor Rama and Sreevalsan Prafulkumar exhibited the richness of the cultural art forms of Kerala.

Various other art forms such as the Aksharasloka Sadasu by Sree Krishna Aksharasloka Samithi of North Paravur, bhajan by Sathya Sai Bhajan Samithi, Kolkali by Iyer Smaraka Kolkali Sangam, Chakyar Koothu by C N Rama Chakyar, Thayambaka by Kaloor Unnikrishnan and Kathakali by Kathakali maestro Sandana Gopalam were held.  Sreevalsan J Menon’s musical concert was a treat to the ears.

The cultural activities at the temple were inaugurated by Excise Minister K Babu. At the function, Ottamthullal maestro Kalamandalam Prabhakaran, Kombu maestro Govindan Kuttty were honoured with the title of Poornathrayeesa Vadya Kala Kousthubham.

The eight-day festival will conclude on November 19 with the Aaratu.