Thiruvathira is a beautiful and traditional part of Kerala's Onam celebrations. Ladies in traditional white and gold kasavu sarees perform this move. It shows style, unity, and cultural pride. Members move in circles around a light. They influence each other with reverent melodies.
Their synchronized steps show harmony and concordance. Thiruvathira is more than excellent; it has deep social meaning. It celebrates womanhood, family ties, and joy together. For many families, a special moment during Onam is when generations of women gather. They blend tradition with the spirit of celebration.
Come January, and we Malayalis welcome the promising celebration of Thiruvathira. Thiruvathira is the title of a Nakshatra, or star, in the Malayali calendar. The day stamped with this Nakshatra in Dhanu Maasam (December-January Month) is celebrated as Thiruvathira.
A Woman Centric Festival
The reason why I am affectionate of this celebration, in specific, is that it is simply a woman-centric festival. This day is uncommon since it’s accepted that, on Thiruvathira, Master Shiva acknowledged Goddess Parvathi as his Saha Dharmini (rise to accomplice), and together they shaped the Ardha Narishwara Rupam.
Related Article: From Thiruvathira to Vallam Kali: Onam as a Festival of Family Bonds
Coming to the portion of the celebration, single ladies watch Thiruvathira so that they may be favored with a life partner who is wiseand congruous. Hitched ladies, watch it for your husband’s long life. In this post, we'll learn what the Thiruvathirakali dance rules are in Malayalam.
For me, the excellence of this day lies in the reality that it’s beautiful, much like sisterhood. As I specified some time recently, Thruvathira is ‘Ladies’ Special.’ In Kerala, ladies of all ages and classes wake up early, bathe in the communal lake, dress up in unused saris, wear their top-pick gold decorations, embellish their hair with jasmine wreaths, and visit the closest Shiva Sanctuary together to offer prayers.
At home, they have fun the whole day. Swings are of major centrality. Gigantic swings are tied to the trees in the plantations where ladies take rounds, swinging together and making merry.
Is This Malayali Celebration a Form of Karvachauth?
Why do I say it’s the Malayali Karvachauth? Well, it’s the fasting related to Thiruvathira. It’s not as rigid as the Karvachauth quick. From dawn, ladies go without rice and rice-based nourishment. Natural products can be expended, but the highlight is an uncommon dish called Puzhukku.
Arranged from yam and other tuber vegetables, this dish is warm and zesty, with a luxurious coating of coconut. Koova Payasam (arrowroot and jaggery sweet) is served as dessert. On this day, it’s like a community kitchen, with ladies from all over the neighborhood joining in, planning dishes, and savoring lunch together.
The Mixture of Rituals
As dusk makes its way, a Nilavilakku (promising light) is lit and set at the middle of a blossom rangoli. Ladies frame a circle around the light and perform Kaikottikali, the conventional move of Kerala. You don’t require to be uncommonly prepared for this or be a master.
Read Also: Kali Puja: Exploring the Night of Lights and Ancient Lore
It’s a fun custom, where you fairly watch the other ladies and stream with the cadence. The tunes sung for the Kaikottikali are ordinarily in laud of Master Shiva and Parvathi.
After the Kaikottikali, or Thiruvathirakali, the Sandhya Pooja is performed, which marks the conclusion of fasting and celebrations. The whole day, as you see, is implied for ladies to bond. Their everyday schedule takes a backseat.
Thiruvathira Is Not Limited by the Need of Space in Our Humble Mumbai Flat
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Thiruvathira was a small, diverse place for me. In our two BHK level, there wasn’t an arrangement for a lake or swings or Kaikottikali. And truly, my mother hasn’t been as sharp on religion or conventions.
We did visit the sanctuary, but sans the so-called obligatory unused dress or gold adornments. We arranged Puzhukku and Payasam but never fasted. Mother didn’t accept remaining hungry, and I have somehowor other soaked up the same. We weren’t precisely the socializing sorts, so Thiruvathira was continuously a gentle issue back home.
Post marriage, I realized a little flat in Mumbai was great and sufficient for not exceptionally expensive but happy celebrations. My husband’s family appreciates a great social life, so Thiruvathira is fun and happy at my Sasural (parents-in-law).
I would go shopping for an unused sari and coordinating adornments with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. One night sometime recently, the close relatives and cousins came to stay.
On Thiruvathira morning, all of us, eight to ten women, would dress up, visit the sanctuary, chat, snicker, cook, appreciate an evening of Antakshari or other diversions, and hold up for the evening to move to the Kaikottikali. Numerous of them would quickly, but I was never constrained to.
Continuing with the Convention, But Differently
With my in-laws in Kerala presently, and with most of my cousins all hitched and scattered, I spend Thiruvathira alone. It happens to be a working day for all as well. But at that point I attempt to grasp what I learned from both my moms.
So I offer supplications for my family, deck up, wrap a modern sari, go to work, and return domestic in the evening to light the light and sing Shiva-Parvati songs. I don’t appreciate cooking, and I don’t quit either. So I devour, as we arrange a Sadhya (Malayali devour) from the nearby Kerala eatery for supper.
