Thalappoli
{{short description|Hindu ritual in Kerala}}
{{for|Malayalam movie|Thaalappoli}}
{{Hinduism}}
Thalappoli is a ritual ceremony performed as a vow in Hindu temples in Kerala, India. It is also performed to usher the bride and groom to the wedding hall and the special guests to public events.
Ritual
Thalappoli is a ritual ceremony performed as a vow in Hindu temples in Kerala, India. Bathed and dressed in beautiful traditional clothes and Kerala ornaments, the women, mainly girls, line up with holding a thalam (a metal plate) in their hands filled with fresh paddy, flowers, rice, coconut (usually broken into two pieces), a lighted lamp and go around the temple with kurava (traditional form of sound), shouts and playing of instruments.{{cite web |title=താലപ്പൊലി |url=https://dict.sayahna.org/stv/55414 |access-date=2023-02-24 |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224083309/https://dict.sayahna.org/stv/55414 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Thalappoli – Traditions Of Kerala |url=https://organikos.net/2013/06/14/thalappoli-traditions-of-kerala/ |website=Organikos |language=en |date=14 June 2013 |access-date=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224083300/https://organikos.net/2013/06/14/thalappoli-traditions-of-kerala/ |url-status=live }} This was regularly practiced in the temples of bhagavathy (Bhadrakali).{{Cite book |last=Balasubramanian |first=Lalitha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yN1iCgAAQBAJ&dq=thalappoli+origin&pg=PT52 |title=Kerala ~ The Divine Destination |date=2015-08-19 |publisher=One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-81576-23-6 |language=en}}
Thalappoli festivalis observed in many Hindu temples across Kerala. some noted temples include Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple,{{cite news |title=കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂർ താലപ്പൊലി: ആനപ്പന്തലിന് കാൽനാട്ടി |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/news-thrissurkerala-04-01-2023/1065292 |work=Deshabhimani |language=ml |access-date=2023-02-24 |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224083301/https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/news-thrissurkerala-04-01-2023/1065292 |url-status=live }} Pattupurackal Bhagavathy Temple,{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=പാട്ടുപുരയ്ക്കൽ താലപ്പൊലി മഹോത്സവം |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=454797&u=local-news-ernakulam |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=ml |access-date=2023-02-24 |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224083300/https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=454797&u=local-news-ernakulam |url-status=live }} Chengannur Mahadeva Temple,{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=ഭക്തിയുടെ നിറവിൽ ചെങ്ങന്നൂർ ദേവിക്ക് തൃപ്പൂത്താറാട്ട് |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=894782&u=local-news-pathanamthitta |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=ml |access-date=2023-02-24 |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224083301/https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=894782&u=local-news-pathanamthitta |url-status=live }} Thalappoli performed by virgins girls is an important ceremony in Attukal Temple.{{cite web |title=ദേവിയുടെ ഭടന്മാരെ അനുസ്മരിക്കാന് ശൂലം കുത്തല്..വിചിത്രമായ ആചാരങ്ങളുള്ള സ്ത്രീ ശബരിമല |url=https://malayalam.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/mysterious-customs-attukal-bhagavathy-temple/articlecontent-pf28864-002501.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |archive-date=2023-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107073533/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertag&topUrl=malayalam.nativeplanet.com&gdpr=0&gdpr_consent=&us_privacy=1--- |url-status=live }} Pilleru thalappoli, the thalappoli by kids is performed at Guruvayur temple.{{cite news |title=ഗുരുവായൂരിൽ പിള്ളേര് താലപ്പൊലി നാളെ, ക്ഷേത്രം നേരത്തെ അടയ്ക്കും |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/thrissur/2023/01/04/thrissur-guruvayur-pilleru-thalappoli-.html |work=ManoramaOnline |language=ml |access-date=2023-02-24 |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224083259/https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/thrissur/2023/01/04/thrissur-guruvayur-pilleru-thalappoli-.html |url-status=live }} In Kottankulangara Devi Temple in Chavara, there is a special ritual where men dress up as women and perform thalappoli.{{Cite web |title=Culture & Heritage {{!}} District Kollam, Government of Kerala {{!}} India |url=https://kollam.nic.in/en/culture-heritage/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224140030/https://kollam.nic.in/en/culture-heritage/ |url-status=live }}
Origin
In Kerala Hindu culture, it is considered auspicious to see the ashta mangalyas (eight blessed elements) - a mirror, a lamp, a vessel filled with water, a new garment, akshatham (the combination of rice and paddy), gold, a girl, and Kurava (a sound that signifies happiness).{{cite web |last1=Haridas |first1=Harikrishnan |title=താലപ്പൊലിയെടുക്കല് |url=https://kesariweekly.com/2746/ |website=Kesari Weekly |publisher=Kesari |date=26 September 2019 |access-date=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224083301/https://kesariweekly.com/2746/ |url-status=live }} It is believed that its simplified form was transformed into talappoli.
There is another argument that 'Thalappoli' is related to Buddhism and Jainism that existed in Kerala.
Non-ritual
See also
References
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{{Culture of Kerala}}