{"id":1031,"date":"2019-10-09T14:46:20","date_gmt":"2019-10-09T09:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.keralatourism.holiday\/blog\/?p=1031"},"modified":"2023-03-18T19:21:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T13:51:27","slug":"mannarasala-ayilyam-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.keralatourism.holiday\/blog\/mannarasala-ayilyam-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Mannarasala Ayilyam 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mannarasala\nAyilyam – one of the mysterious temple festivals of Kerala.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Date:<\/strong> 23 October 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venue:<\/strong> Sree Nagaraja\nTemple, Mannarasala, Harippad, Alleppey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kerala<\/a><\/strong> is an extraordinary wonderland that travels with time while retaining its precious heritage and is a repository of unique experiences as well. The lively and exotic temple festivals of God’s Own Country Kerala<\/a><\/strong> are too surprising and experiential that offers you a chance to delve into the vivid culture and tradition of the state<\/a><\/strong>. Each and every temple festival of Kerala proves to be a fascinating eye-opener to some of its bizarre rituals and customs. The Mannarasala Ayilyam<\/strong> Festival will be one of the strangest festivals you will ever come across in Kerala that makes you dumbfounded with its unique legend and rituals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The major festival here is the Ayilyam festival that falls on the Ayilyam asterism in the Malayalam month of Thulam<\/em><\/strong>, which roughly corresponds to the months of October \/ November. This year 2019<\/strong>, the Mannarasala Ayilyam falls on October 23 Wednesday<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Be a part of the unique temple festivals of Kerala and have a blessed time in this beautiful land that always surprises you with its extraordinary culture and traditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About\nMannarasala Temple:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Located near Harippad in the Alappuzha<\/a><\/strong> or Alleppey<\/a><\/strong> district of Kerala. Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple<\/a><\/strong> is an internationally renowned temple dedicated to the serpent god Nagaraja<\/strong>. It’s beautiful setting amidst dense green forest grove creates a tranquil and eco-friendly ambiance all around. This divine shrine is under the support of a Brahmin family. And unlike other temples in the country, Mannarasala Temple is headed by a priestess whom the devotees fondly call as Mannarasala Amma<\/em><\/strong>. It is said that the deity of this shrine is blessed with the spirit of Lord Shiva and has the form of Lord Vishnu. The temple is adorned with over thirty thousand paintings and drawings of snakes all along the paths crisscrossing the serene forest area. Mannarasala Temple is often visited by swarms of devotees from far and near to offer prayers to the serpent god, Nagaraja<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though the legends related to the origin of a place cannot be deemed as its history, the story on the evolution of Mannarasala as one of the foremost places of worship of the Serpent Gods is associated with Lord Parashurama<\/em><\/strong> who is widely believed to be the creator of Kerala<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Click here)<\/em><\/a>, to know more about the history of Manarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple in Alappuzha, Kerala. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About\nMannarasala Ayilyam:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As a serpent shrine, the Ayilyam of Thulam in the Malayalam Calendar which is popularly known as the Mannarasala Ayilyam is the major celebration of Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple<\/em><\/strong>. It is celebrated with much religious fervor on the Ayilyam asterism in the Malayalam month of Thulam which roughly corresponds to the months of October and November. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mannarasala-ayilyam\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The main attraction of this festival is the grand procession in which all the serpent idols in the sacred grove and the Mannarasala Temple are taken to the Illam (the Brahmin ancestral home) where special prayers and offerings like Nurum Palum (rice flour and milk) are performed. The chief priestess (Mannarasala Amma) will carry the golden idol of the main deity to the Illam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mannarasala Ayilyam festival dates between 2018 & 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Year<\/th>Date<\/th><\/tr>
2018<\/td>Thursday, 1st of November<\/td><\/tr>
2019<\/strong><\/td>Wednesday, 23rd of October<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
2020<\/td>Monday, 9th of November<\/td><\/tr>
2021<\/td>Saturday, 30th of October<\/td><\/tr>
2022<\/td>Wednesday, 16th of November<\/td><\/tr>
2023<\/td>Monday, 6th of November<\/td><\/tr>
2024<\/td>Saturday, 26th of October<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Plan now and witness one of the mysterious temple festivals of Kerala on your visit to Alleppey\/Alappuzha<\/a><\/strong> and seek the blessings of Lord Nagaraja (the serpent king) with our special holiday tour packages<\/a><\/strong> and customized temple tour packages<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enquire now and get the best deals and offers.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rituals Performed During the Festival:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The rituals for Ayilyam festival commences with the opening of the temple for \u2018Nirmalyadarshanam<\/em><\/strong>\u2019 which is then followed by special poojas administered by the Karanavar, the male head of the Mannarasala Illam<\/em><\/strong>. Then the chief priestess, Mannarasala Amma<\/em><\/strong> will give darshan to the thousands of devotees who flocked near the temple complex to celebrate the festival. After the nivedyam(sacred food), a mass feast for the devotees will be organized, known as \u2018Prasadamoottu<\/em><\/strong>\u2019 which is then followed by the Nagakkalam rituals administered by the Karanavar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After these rituals, the grand procession, \u2018Ezhunallathu<\/strong>\u2019 takes place during which the Mannarasala Amma carries the Nagaraja Thirumukham<\/strong> and Nagaphanam<\/strong>, the Elayamma carries the idol of Sarpayakshiyamma and the Karanavar carries the idols of Nagachamundiyamma and Nagayakshiyamma to the Illam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After reaching the Illam, Mannarasala Amma performs special prayers and poojas which is followed by the \u2018Thattil Noorumpalum\u2019 ritual conducted by the Karanavar which marks the end of the annual Mannarasala Ayilyam Festival<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why\nthe Temple is So Special?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n