The much awaited Nochur Chariot Festival was held on Friday 17-1-2020. With the benevolent blessings of Goddess Shanti Durga Parameswary, I had the privilege of attending the whole spiritual proceedings and rituals performed so religiously on the day in the midst of thousands of devotees milling about in the temple compound. The aura of Goddess Nochur Bhagavathy with all the decorations made with incenses and aromatic garlands, the radiance emanating from her graceful eyes, made the whole atmosphere so sacred, divine and celestial. To put it in pure sublime spiritual parlance, it looked, as though the deity Nochur Bhagavathy was very much present there, blessing and watching the whole rituals with utmost attention compassion and gracefulness, for the welfare of the multitude of devotees!

Compared to the other chariot festivals with more than one chariot, for example in the adjacent Palakkad villages chariot festival, where the chariots from six  temples of different villages, converge at one point and celebrate, the festivalthough with only a single decorated chariot at Nochur looked brilliant and  equally vibrant with all splendour, gayety and cheerfulness!

The traditional rituals are scrupulously followed and performed with utmost devotion and sanctity. In the morning, Thirumanjanam(consecration of the goddess’s idol with milk, coconut water, curd, sandal paste, turmeric paste, ghee etc.)Recitation of Vedas, CHATUSSATHAM(the customary porridge made of milk, rice, coconut- milk, jaggary, cardamom etc.), arathy -deeparadhana,  - Ratha arohanam of diety (Installation of Goddess in the chariot)  and besides, the customary annual Chariot festival in the evening, with the decorated chariot being taken in a procession around the streets in the Agraharam and finally restoring the chariot to its usual resting place.

After the morning rituals and other formalities, Mahaprasadam -a sumptuous Annadanam- is arranged for the thousands of devotees coming from various places.
In the evening, at 5.30, acrowded procession,with experienced men, pulling the thick coirrope of the decorated chariot, carrying the graceful idol of Goddess Bhagavathy, installed in, is taken out to make a slow round around the Agraharam accompanied with drum-beats. The procession stopes at frequent intervals and the trained people keep wedges under the wheels to put a halt to the heavy chariot. So, one has to be very careful and alert while pulling the chariot. The whole atmosphere is vociferous and vibrant with chants, cheers and thrilling cries from the spilling crowd!

The chariot is colourfully adorned with colourful bulbs, fruits, vegetables, dolls, beads, golden colour glace papers, flowers and garlands. On the deck inside, small children occupy some place and keep curiously peeping through the tiny windows in the chariot. To pull the chariot along the uneven roads, with frequent intermissions is really a hazardous task! Or perhaps, not as easy as the layman thinks! This writer also made his trial, but couldn’t continue as the amount of strength needed is so much that only healthy youngsters can withstand the pressure exerted in the process. In short, the facile movement of the chariot is possible only with the synergies of the men on the rope. Even the young and old women folk participate in the pulling spree, so enthusiastically.
 
Finally, after completing the circuit, perambulating through the long narrow lanes around the temple, the chariot is brought back to its permanent resting place around 8-8.30 p. m and the crowd slowly disperses, marking the end of the famous chariot festival. The long -awaited festival is thus over and it provides everyone a sense of contentment, serenity andfulfilment.

In the night, there were some cultural activities like Harkatha Prabhashanam, discourse and at night, there was Pallakku Ezhunnallathu(Palanquin procession) with Nadaswaram, marking the end of the 4days’(14-1-20 to 17-1-20) festival programs. The Dwajarohanam was on the 14th January 2020 and the Dwajavarohanam(raising and lowering) was on the 18th January 2020,  duly observing the pre and post vedic formalities, thusdenoting the conclusion of the entire Ratholsawam at Nochur, Palghat District, Kerala.

Incidentally, I had the privilege of meeting the renowned Brahmashree Nochur Venkataraman at the Nochur Temple mandapam on the Ratholsavam day and interacting with him for a few minutes. His family and my Dharmapathny’s family,were neighbours from beginning and so both the families know each other and I too, therefore, know him well. A highly educated erudite he is, nevertheless, very unassuming and speaks less, but, softly to all.  I could also send him my recent article on Nochur Bhagavathy as he desired. Besides, I couldphotograph with him along with a friend of mine Shri Ramakrishnan (Palghat)Mumbai. Brahmashree Venkataraman, an ardent devotee of Ramana Maharshi, an astute observer of things and an adept and experienced orator in mythologies, philosophy and vedantic topics like Sankara Vedanta, is one of the popular contemporary acharyasfor the Hindus in India and a good section of the Indian diaspora abroad. He has authored a number of religious books in Malayalam and English as well. His discourses in Tamil, Malayalam and English, on various topics recorded from many sennights and Navahams, are worth listening and are easily accessible in the U tube for all. He speaks very eloquently and captures the audience so quickly. He is one of the highly preferred Acharyas in the South as well as in many parts of our country.

The Ratholsavam, recurs every year in the third week of January and Her devotees, irrespective of young and old, are anxiously looking forward to taking part with absolute physical and mental involvement every time. The unbelievable divine power of the deity is that Her glory and splendorous appearance, compel and drag everyone to go for the next Chariot Festival! Till such time, everyone reminisces the pleasant experiences and longs, ruminating those memorable moments!

Let us hope that every dedicated devotee will get an opportunity to have Her glimpse year after year and will be a recipient of Her benevolent blessings! We should believe in one thing that firm faith in and devotion to God, alone can salvage our souls from all worldly obsessions and lead to salvation in this Kaliuga!

 May Goddess Shanti Durga Parameswari bless us all!