Kozhikode :
A group of devotees have brought out a documentary on the lesser known rituals of Kottiyoor temple, where the annual Vaishaka festival will begin on Tuesday.
“Even those who come to participate in the festival do not know what actually transpires at the temple. So we thought of filming Kottiyoor Mahatmyam, a two-hour-long documentary,” said Vinod Manathana, a member of one of the Sthani families that control the temple. He has directed the documentary.
Legend has it that Kottiyoor in Kannur district is the place where Daksha yaga was conducted. “Later, Lord Parasuram started the Vaishakha festival. The fest was revived when a Kurichya tribal found a ‘swayambhoo siva linga’ while hunting in the forest, according to the legend,” Vinod said.
Thousands of people arrive for the 28-day festival held at the makeshift temple at Akkare Kottiyoor. “The rituals here are unique and can’t be seen anywhere in the country. Certain rituals are even held secretly as people are not allowed to watch them. Such rituals have been omitted from the documentary, but we have narrated such rituals through voiceover for the benefit of devotees who are keen to know about them,” he said.
The uniqueness of the temple is that all castes in the Hindu community have a role in the rituals. “People from as many as 64 Hindu castes participate in the rituals. Each ritual is assigned to a particular community ranging from Brahmins to tribals,” he said.
The team completed the documentary after extensive research and consultation with the Kottiyoor devaswom authorities. “The makeshift temple and the surroundings are a visual treat. Entry to Akkare Kottiyoor is limited to the festival days. Earlier, the entire makeshift temple used to be dismantled after the festival, but now only the ‘sree kovil’ where the siva lingam is kept is demolished,” he said.
The CD of the documentary was released at a function held here on June 7.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / June 10th, 2014