The festival begins with the ritual of sacrificing roosters on a stone (Kozhikkallu) near the temple, symbolizing the offering to Kali and her demons. Since 1977, this has been reduced to covering the stone with red silk cloth.
The tradition of singing Bharani Pattu is deeply tied to regional legends of the divine feminine:
The festival begins with the ritual of sacrificing roosters on a stone (Kozhikkallu) near the temple, symbolizing the offering to Kali and her demons. Since 1977, this has been reduced to covering the stone with red silk cloth.
The tradition of singing Bharani Pattu is deeply tied to regional legends of the divine feminine: