The Bharani festival starts in the Malayalam month of Kumbham, that falls in February or early March, on the Bharani day (the day of the Bharani 'Nakshatra' or asterism as per the Malayalam calendar) with a simple ritual called the Cherubharani Kodiyettam.
The Cherubharani Kodiyettam starts around 8:00 in the morning on the Bharani day of the Kumbham month. The temple is cleared and the devotees asked to step aside, ahead of the start of the ritual, at the Vadakke (Northern) Nada (Entrance).
The crowd stands aside, waiting for the Kodiyettam ritual to start. The ritual will commence with the arrival of the 'Malayan Thattaan' and his group, at the North Nada.
The Cherubharani ritual starts with the arrival of the Malayan Thattaan - the chief role-player of the ritual - and his companion at the North Nada (entrance), accompanied by customary 'vaadyam' (instrumental music) and dressed in a special red 'mundu' and 'pavizhamaala'(coral necklace) given specifically for the ritual by the Kodungallur Thampuran (the erstwhile king/chief of Kodungallur). The Malayan Thattaan's is a traditionally handed-down position, just as is the case with the Thampuran.
A temple official places the bell to be used in the ritual on the 'kozhikkallu' – one of the stones in front of the North Nada, where earlier, hens used to be sacrificed in front of the deity – a practice now banned in the temple precincts. The Malayan Thattaan and his companion proceed towards the kozhikkallu.
The customary offering is kept on the stone, the ceremonial bell taken, and the Malayan Thattaan and his companion do the customary bow, before beginning the first of the three pradakshinas (circumambulations) around the temple.
As the duo reach the North Nada back, the vaadyam (instrumental music) that was being played all along speeds up the tempo and reaches a final crescendo
The connection to the temple and to the Cherubharani ritual is something he and his family have held over several years - and he, personally, ever since his own father died,and he took up the family business of smithy, just after school.
Photographs and write-ups of the event come in the local newspapers .. and even beyond, as the Kodungallur Cherubharani Kodiyettam, is awaited - not just by him..
The write-ups, photographs and coverage come - not just in Kodungallur, but throughout the state - as the Cherubharani kodiyettam marks the occasion for devotees across several parts of Kerala - particularly North Kerala - and even Tamil Nadu, to start planning their annual visit to the Amma / Devi at Kodungallur.
