Aranmula Vallasadya, India’s largest feast is a captivating annual ritual festival held at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Occurring on Ashtami Rohini, this celebration encompasses a thrilling snake boatrace on the sacred Pampa River,. This follows a magnificent feast served on banana leaves within the temple premises.
The feast features an array of over 70 traditional Kerala dishes. The event stands as a culinary extravaganza known for its delectable vegetarian specialties. The Vallasadya is steeped in centuries-old customs and legendary tales.
RITUALS AND FEASTING
On the day of Aranmula Vallasadya, dedicated oarsmen navigate their boats down the river to reach the temple. As they circumambulate the temple, they melodiously recite Krishna bhajans or ‘Vanchi Paattu’ while presenting Nirapara (a ritual offering) to the presiding deity. As the feast unfolds, their songs take on a playful tone, and they begin requesting specific dishes through ‘Vanchi Paattu.’ This festival, spanning over two hours, seamlessly blends music, sport, and ceremonial offerings.
LORD PARTHASARATHY’S BLESSING
Legend has it that Lord Parthasarathy manifests to accept offerings from the devotees, and it is incumbent upon the event to fulfil all the requested dishes. These dishes are traditionally categorized into three groups and meticulously served. Among them are dishes such as ‘parippu’ (dal), ‘pulissery,’ ‘kaalan,’ ‘avial,’ ‘thoran,’ ‘erissery,’ ‘koottukari,’ ‘pachadi,’ ‘kichadi,’ ‘mezhukku purattees,’ and a variety of pickles. Attendees have the opportunity to savour the unique flavours of the central Travancore district during this remarkable occasion.
Contact Information: For further information, you can reach out to: DTPC Pathanamthitta Phone: +91 468 231 1343
Getting There:
Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport, located approximately 115.8 kilometres away.
Nearest Railway Station: Chengannur Railway Station situated about 10.2 kilometres from Aranmula.
