Vrischikotsavam

Vrischikotsavam, is the eight day long annual temple festival of Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple at Tripunithura. Falls by the end of November, Vrischikotsavam marks the beginning of the season of festivals in middle Kerala. The festival starts with the hoisting of the sacred flag on the Chothi asterism of the month Vrischikam as per the Malayalam calendar.

The highlight of Vrischikotsavam is the majestic procession or ezhunnallippu of 15 caparisoned elephants with the effigy of the deity held by the elephant in the middle. The procession resounds with the drumbeats of the spectacular Pancharimelam, a traditional temple art form. More than 200 artists participate in this melam with instruments like chenda, Elathaalam (cymbals), Kombu, Kurumkuzhal etc. The melam lasts for about 3 to 31/2 hours. The procession takes place everyday of the festival in the morning and evening.

The fourth day of Vrischikotsavam known as Thrikketta purappadu day, holds a special significance. Legend says that once Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, a great brahmin saint visited the temple while the procession was going on. He couldn't see the lord inside the sanctum. But when he looked at the procession, he could see lord Maha Vishnu in the form of infant Krishna jumping and playing on the 15 elephants for the procession. The swamiyar gave an offering to the lord and sought his blessings. On the fourth day of the festival, offering is placed in front of the deity which is supposed to be the day of the Swamiyar's visit.

The festival conclude with the deity being taken for a holy bath at the Chakkamkulangara temple pond and back in a procession to the beats of pandimelam and pancharimelam.