Petta Thullal held as annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season nears end

’Petta Thullal’, the ritualistic dance marking the last leg of the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season, was held with traditional gaiety at Erumely on Sunday.

The teams of Ayyappa devotees from Ambalappuzha and Alangad staged the ceremonial mass dance as thousands thronged the streets of the temple town to witness the unique celebration of communal harmony. The Ambalappuzha group was the first to begin the dance by 12 noon after sighting the Brahminy kite in the sky.

The group, led by Samooha Periyon N. Gopalakrishna Pillai and accompanied by three tuskers, danced down the streets of Erumely and was accorded a reception at the Nainar mosque by the Erumely Mahallu Muslim Jama-at. After circumambulating the mosque, the group proceeded to the Sree Dharma Sastha temple, Erumely. The Ambalappuzha group performed the dance in the company of T.H. Asad of the Thazhath House, who represented Vavar.

The Alangad group, led by Ambadath Pradeep R. Menon, began the dance by around 3.30 p.m. and was received in front of the Sree Dharma Sastha temple.

More police deployed

In view of the heightened pilgrim activity over the past two days, an additional batch of 200 police personnel has been deployed on duty for security and traffic regulation in Erumely town.

The festivities at Erumely began on Friday evening with the staging of the Chandanakkudam festival at the Nainar mosque.

Meanwhile, the customary procession carrying the Thiruvabharanam (sacred jewellery of the presiding deity at Sabarimala) will set off to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam from Pandalam on Monday.