Pesum Perumal Temple, Koozhampandal – Festivals
The
rituals and festivals of this temple are conducted according to the Vaikhanasa
Agama. Tamil New year day falling almost on April 14; Vaikasi Visakam in
May-June with Garuda Seva of 15 villages; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Sri
Krishna Jayanthi in August-September; Deepavali in October-November; Vishnu
Karthikai Deepam in November-December; Vaikunda Ekadasi and Koodaravalli in
December-January; Hanuman Jayanthi, English New Year Day; 3 day Pongal in January
and Ratha Sapthami in January-February, Masi Magam with 108 Go Pujas-pujas with
108 cows; Panguni Uthiram wedding festival and Sri Rama Navami in March-April
are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Every
month on Saturdays and on Tiruvonam Nakshatram, in the early morning, special
Tirumanjanam is performed for the deity. A grand Garuda Sevai festival is being
celebrated from the past two years as an initiative taken by the ‘Koozhampandal’
village people along with the participation of other invited villages, close to
Perunagar River. It was told that Pesum Perumal of Koozhampandal, being
the host, gives special homage to each of his guests from other villages with
the exchange of Deepam, coconut and cloth. The festival starts in the evening
from each of the villages with a Chariot procession of their respective Perumal
through the village streets blessing the devotees at their door-step.
The
participant villages are from both the sides of Perunagar River. Each of these
processions ends up at Mandapams on both sides of the river- each having their
own separate Mandapams. The Battacharyas of the respective temple then do the
Abishekam and Alankaram of Perumal that will continue till late night. Early in
the morning all the Chariots with Perumaals are dragged by the devotees to the
sand-bed of river where they are placed in a circular pattern. After this the
Deeparadhana is performed. Later Pesum Perumal of Koozhampandal visits each of
his guests offering homage. Then the Chariots return back to their respective
temples.
Koodaravalli
festival is celebrated in the temple in December-January in a specially built
tent with fruits, vegetables and cosmetic herbals and flowers. Sri Andal graces
the tent and blesses the devotees. Tiruppavai hymns – authored by Sri
Andal are recited. This is celebrated for the benefit of devotees to
realize their wedding boon, education, prosperity and business
development. Any devotee undertaking fasting, charity, homas and remedial
worships and pujas for the removal of adverse situations in life, reap thousand
fold benefits, it is believed. People’s faith in Perumal is
boundless.
