Another fascinating festival is the celebration of VISHU that occurs on the first of MEDAM (more or less on 14th of APRIL). There are special offerings in the temple on the auspicious day. In the evening, by 5 O’clock, two smart boys, one as SIVA and the other as PARVATHI, both attired in ceremonial dress made of dry leaves of banana tree, join their hands together in salutation and hold a cane between the hands and escorted by a few seniors and the predecessors called PANDARIS visit certain houses of AVAKASIKAL. They come to each of the specified houses by running and at times beating the mischievous boys who stand in the way.
They are conspicuous in the crowd because of their comical and curious dress. When they enter the house, they are welcomed with a crackling and thunderous noise made by the crackers, set off intermittently.. Then the boys sit on a grass mat spread on the floor for the purpose. They place a ceremonial mark on the fore-head of the house-holder and bless all the members of the family. Then, as a custom, APPAM (already offered to God Ganapathy) cucumber and coconut are given to the boys. Towards the sunset, they enter the temple, remove their ceremonial dress and take bath in the huge tank in front of the temple. The thunderous sounds incessantly made by the explosion of the crackers for hours resonate the atmosphere and make the participants spell-bound for the day. The street and surroundings were thronged with the devotees to witness the thrilling experience known as “CHOYIKETTU”. Recently, an attractive plastic packet sealed and enchased with one rupee coin along with photographs of Lord GANAPATHI and KRISHNA is presented as the first gift (KAINEETTAM) to the thousands of devotees who come to the temple in the morning of the auspicious day to have the “VISHUKANI”, the first sight of the idol of Maha Ganapathi.
