PALAKKAD: Visitors stepping into this temple for the first time during the Navaratri season are often left wondering which is the main deity and which is the Bommai Golu. Such is the breathtaking and diverse spectacle of the Navaratri celebrations at the Sree Periya Mariamman Temple in Melamuri, located close to Palakkad town.
A unique feature here is the grand Bommai Golu arranged right next to the main deity in the Golu mandapam, starting from the very first day of the Navaratri festival. Brahmins who arrive from Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu stay at the temple and meticulously craft the Golu idols, adorned with sandalwood paste (chandana kappu) while observing strict religious vows.
Idols over ten feet tall
Each of the Golu idols stands over ten feet tall. Various divine forms, including the Goddess, Ganesha, and Subramanya, are depicted each day. Hundreds of devotees flock to the temple daily during this period to witness this grandeur and seek blessings.
Notable among the elaborate displays are the idol of Ghatotkacha surrounded by an array of sweets and food items, and the Kanakadhara installation where the deity is adorned with currency and gold. Mythological scenes, including the Pattabhishekam (coronation) of Lord Rama, are also brought to life as part of the Golu during these days. The Navaratri festival concludes with traditional rituals featuring the ceremonial procession of the Goddess on a lion mount (Simha vahana) symbolizing the slaying of demons.
At this nearly 200-year-old temple, locals have been celebrating Navaratri with uniquely distinct rituals for the past 60 years. What began as a modest celebration has now grown into a massive cultural and spiritual gathering attended by thousands.
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