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The Largest Visual
Spectacle in Kerala Similar to Thrissur Pooram
| Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha, conducted
every year on the Bharani Nakshathram of Malayalam month
‘Kumbham - It is probably the most amazing cultural
visual spectacle in Kerala, similar to the Thrissur Pooram.
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The event is an offering of the people of Chettikulangara to
their beloved deity known for her spontaneous blessings on true
devotees as a mark of gratitude, devotion, unflinching faith,
and for showering prosperity and protection to their lives.
‘Kettukazhcha’ displays deftly sculpted and decorated
forms of ‘ six temple cars known as ‘Kuthiras’,
five Therus’ (Chariots ) and icons of Bhima and Hanuman.
All the temple cars, chariots and the icons are all incredibly
gigantic in size and are many times larger than any other similar
Kuthiras and Therus built during the festivities at other temples
in the Central Travancore region.
On the move, these out of the world sky scrapping colourful
decorations are electrifying, and will create an unforgettable
artistic impression in union, especially during the night in
the back drop of illuminated lights. Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha
heralds the architectural and aesthetic acumen of the ancient
people of Chettikulangara, who could convert an improbable out
of the world concept to an enormous artistic reality, achieved
by collective hardships and will power.
Technical
& Factual details
Kuthiras have a height of about 70 to 75 feets, and are a union
of four parts– Adikkoottu, Kathirakal, Edakkodaram, Prabhada
and Melkkoodaram, one above the other respectively.
Adikkottu
Adikkottu, the basic structure also known as Vandikkoottu, form
the basic foundation which consists of four big wooden wheels
interconnected with four other beams above it. Kuthiras have
Thandu, two long huge wooden poles helpful to control the direction
while on the move. Thandu and the basic structure are interconnected
and have reinforced wooden bearings similar to the modern shock
absorbers.
Kathirukal
The Kathirakal, with about 35 feet height, consists of four
long poles interconnected with Arecanut poles known as ‘Alaku’
and reinforced with coir and Panavalli knots. These are again
strengthened with ‘Kuthukathrika’ or criss cross
formation of Alakus. Kathirakal is again bifurcated to two parts
– the lower portion consisting of four to five extended
layers of Thattu and Charippu (slanting pyramid shaped boxes,
made of interconnected Alakus and coir formation, then decorated
with white cloth known as Vella, colourful glittering clothes
and embellishments called ‘Thookku’.
Prabhada
The above portion is reserved for Prabhada, which consists of
exquisite wooden carved sculptors narrating stories from the
Puranas, elephant caparisons called Nettipattoms, Thalekkettu
and Aalavattom displayed in the backdrop of colourful clothes
and sculptors. Many of the Prabhadas have stories like Gajendramoksham,
Vasthrapaharanam,Krishnavatharm.
Edakkoodaram
The Edakkoodaram, 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.
Melkkoodaram
Melkkoodaram, the top structure is exactly having a pyramid
shape, and pivotal to it is an extended long sculpted wooden
pole in white colour known as ‘Nambu’. All the separate
units are pulled up and placed one above the other with the
help of wooden pulleys, giant coir ropes called Vadams with
a length of over 100 fts.and with huge iron structures, drawn
by hundreds of people.
Theru
Theru does not have the Prabhadas and Edakkoodarams. Their illithattu
and charippu are larger than that of the Kuthiras and diminishes
in size upwards. Therus are also relatively smaller in comparison
to the Kuthiras of Erezha South, Erezha North, Kaitha South,
Kaitha North and Pela.
| Bhima and Hanuman |
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The wooden icons of Bhima made by Mattom North and Hanuman brought
by Mattom south are probably the largest of its kind in the
world, and are sure to be the largest in Kerala. Bhima’s
icon is postured as the Pandava enroute to kill Baka on Pothu
Vandi (vehicle drawn by buffalos) with food for the Rakshasa
King. Mattom south kara also brings the icon of Panjali along
with Hanuman
Ceremony
Preparations for constructing the Kettukazhchas start from Shivarathri,
about six to ten days prior to Kumbhabharani. On the evening
of Kumbhabharani, the Kettukazhchas are dragged to the temple
by hundreds of people, and are paraded at the paddy field in
front of the temple. After Bhagavathi’s Ezhunnellippu
to bless the Kettukazhchas and people, the Kettukazhchas are
taken back to the respective Karas by next morning. The dismantled
parts of Kettukazhchas are kept at the ‘Kuthirappura’
of each Karas.
Lineage according to historians
Historians attribute the concept of ‘Kettukazhchas’
- similar to the architecture of the ‘Buddha tradition
in square, rectangular and pyramid shapes, to the remnants of
the Buddha culture which was widely prevalent in the Central
Travancore region a few centuries ago.
For
more details visit chettikulangara.org
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