Eight-day-long Vrischikolsavam begins

KOCHI: The roads leading to Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple in Tripunithura were bustling with activity as many people thronged the venue to listen to ‘pancharimelam’ led by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar from Monday morning onwards.
The eight-day-long Vrischikolsavam will have sixteen such melams during eight days and nights.
Hartal proved a boon for many people as they did not have to go to office and came to listen the melam, wherein 120 artists, comprising drummers, ‘kurukozhulu’, ‘elathalam’ and ‘kozulu’ artists performed for nearly three hours.
The festival also showcases carnatic music concerts, thayambaka, kathakali, ottanthullal, kurathiyaattom, kolkali and even aksharashlokam events.
Ritualistic percussion ensembles like ‘kurumkuzhal pattu’, ‘kombu pattu’, ‘maddala pattu’ and ‘parisha vadhyam’ are also added attraction of the festival.
On Thursday, the highlight of the festival will be ‘thrikketta purappadu’. ‘Valiya vilakku’ is on Sunday and aaraattu on Monday.