Mangattu Bhattathiri sets sail for Aranmula

Keeping alive an age-old tradition, Anoop Narayana Bhattathiri, a member of the Mangattu Illam at Kumaranallur, Kottayam, on Tuesday set sail for the Sree Parthasarathy temple on the banks of the Pampa river at Aranmula.

A Churulan boat carrying Mr. Bhattathiri and the oarsmen began its journey around 11.45 a.m. and is slated to reach Aranmula on the eve of Thiruvonam. This marked Mr. Bhattathiri’s second voyage in this role.

During the voyage, the boat will traverse the Meenachil, Manimala, and the Pampa rivers, passing through Kidangara, near Changanassery, and Thiruvalla, to reach the Mahavishnu temple near Cherukol.

The group is slated to take rest at Veliyanad on the first day and resume its voyage on Wednesday morning to arrive at the Devaswom Sathrakkadavu in Aranmula the next day. The next morning, the Uthradam day, they will depart for the Kattoor Mahavishnu temple.

From there, accompanied by representatives of 18 families, Mr. Bhattathiri will embark on the Thiruvonathoni, carrying provisions for the Onasadya at the Aranmula temple. The ‘Thiruvonathoni’ procession, accompanied by several other canoes, will reach the Aranmula temple early on Thiruvonam morning. The morning worship for Thiruvonam day will commence only after the lamp brought from the Kattoor temple is used to light the perennial lamp at the Aranmula temple.

Mr. Bhattathiri will return to Kumaranallur after completing all rituals at the temple during the day

Legend has it that the presiding deity of the temple chose one of the elders of the Kattoor Madhom (in Pathanamthitta) to be his host every Onam, owing to his devoutness. Since then, it has been the privilege of the eldest Bhattathiri of the Mangattu Illam to host the Onam feast for the deity.