Pindi Perunal in Irinjalakuda
The most prominent of Pindi Perunnal is celebrated in Irinjalakuda. Most of the Irinjalakuda people await the festival for at least two three months in advance. The main celebrations will start on Saturday morning. The start of the festival is heralded by drummings which go through the main roads of Irinjalakuda. This starts a lot of frenzied activities starting from preparing the right plantian in front of the house. Its a proud moment to find a right plantain decorated in front of the house for the house owner.
Also there will be "Sacred Arrow" processes for each family unit, which starts from Saturday. The "Sacred Arrow" is to commemorate the arrows which pierced the body of Saint Sebastian. This is brought to each home to be venerated by the house members, to make offerings. This Sacred Arrow is escorted to the decorated chariots after sometime accompanied by lot of fireworks. These happens mainly on the days of Saturday and Monday.
The main festival is on Sunday. Everyone sporting a new dress eagerly participates in the procession or awaits it. The main procession starts by around 3 PM accompanied by prayers, and is preceded by heavy fireworks. People both near and dear, flock from various places to share the festivities. Its truly an experience which can be only experienced but cannot be told.
The whole of Irinjalakuda will be transformed to some magical land during this festival. To quote an Irinjalakuda person, "Half of the year is spend awaiting the Pindi Perunnal, where as other half is spend re-living the memories of it".
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