THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The annual festival of Kanthalloor Sree Mahadeva temple at Valiyasala here will be held from February 19 to 28. Thantri Kuzhikattillathu Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiripad will hoist the festival flag between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on February 19.
The ritual will be accompanied by a performance by the Kanthalloor Panchavadya troupe. Gajapooja and aanayoottu rituals will be held on February 27 at 3.30 p.m.. The pallivetta will be held at 11 p.m. The ardradarsanam ritual will be held on February 28 at 6 a.m. The thrikodiyirakku, lowering of the festival flag, between 5 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. will be followed by arattu at 8 p.m. A grand deeparadhana will be held on March 1 at 4 a.m. to be followed by a fireworks display. Cultural programmes will be held on all festival days
SIVARATRI FESTIVITIES
The Sivaratri festival on February 17 will be marked by lakshadeepam at 6.30 p.m. Health Minister V S Sivakumar, former Union Minister O Rajagopal, V Sivankutty MLA, Mayor K Chandrilka and the first councillor of Valiyasala ward K Ayyappan Pillai will attend the ritual.
The other major rituals on the day are: palliyunarthal (4.30 a.m.), nirmalyam (5 a.m.), Ganapati Homam (5.30 a.m.), ghrita dhara (7.30 p.m.), 108 dhara (9.30 p.m., 11.30 p.m., 12.30 p.m., and 2 a.m. on February 18)