Childhood memories - the Durga Temple, Thottekkad, Pulpatta, Manjeri

 

One memory from my childhood is the frequent visits to the temple near our home - the Bhagavathi or Durga temple. On Fridays, we have a special offering at the temple - "Nerathala" which is basically Coconut rice - coconut shavings cooked in hand-milled red rice which is cooked by the priest (Embranthiri) in the temple itself. Anyone of us children should go to the temple to collect the same which meant you need to take bath early morning. The bath in the pond is a celebration in itself though the water will be very cold in the morning. But after the first leap in the water, you dont feel the cold at all. 

A three-four minute run to the temple, doing the pradikshinam and collecting the Nivedyam and back to home - all would be over in about 15-20 minutes maximum. 

The other memorable event is during the Vilakku where oil lamps are lighted all around the temple and we children have to pour the oil into the small metal lamps fixed on the outer walls of the temple as well as inside - around the garbhagriham. With a kuthuvilakku we used to go around and light all the lamps by sunset. Then there are special pooja etc. Each family would have a dedicated day of the month for the Vilakku. 

Also coconuts are thrown on to a slanting rock in front of the Iyyappan's temple and we children used to run and catch the broken coconut pieces. The special Ney Paayasam with roasted sessame on top was other delicacy of various Nivedyams from the temple.