Malayalam festival
Thiruvathira — തിരുവാതിര
tiruvātira
December–January · the Thiruvathira star in the month of Dhanu
Thiruvathira is a women's festival dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, observed for marital harmony. Women fast, bathe before dawn, and in the evening perform Thiruvathirakali — a graceful circle dance around a lit lamp, sung and clapped in unison.
Greetings in Malayalam
തിരുവാതിര ആശംസകൾ
tiruvātira āśaṁsakaḷ
"Happy Thiruvathira!"
universal
Customs & traditions
- ✦Fasting and pre-dawn bath
- ✦Thiruvathirakali — circular dance around a nilavilakku lamp
- ✦Staying up past midnight for paathirappoo choodal — wearing the "midnight flower"
- ✦Dressing in the cream-and-gold mundum neriyathum with jasmine in the hair
Traditional foods
തിരുവാതിരപ്പുഴുക്ക്
tiruvātirappuḻukk
Mixed tubers and beans cooked with coconut
കൂവപ്പായസം
kūvappāyasaṁ
Arrowroot payasam
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