Illam Nira held at Chottanikkara Temple

CHOTTANIKKARA: On Friday thousands of devotes   thronged Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple to collect the paddy sheaves as ‘prasadam’ of Illam Nira. For the next seven days, the holy sheaves taken from the sanctum sanctorum will be given to the devotees. It is believed that even a small share of the holy sheaves kept at houses will bring prosperity for the entire year. To mark the forthcoming prosperous season of richness, the Illam Nira, the harvest festival was conducted on Thursday. Fresh paddy sheaves, brought from Kunnamkulam, were first taken to the Western Gateway of the temple.After the routine morning rituals, including Ethrutha Pooja, the main priest P S Venkittan Embranthiri circled the temple with the bundle of paddy sheaves. They were then taken to the sanctum sanctorum after the special poojas at ‘namaskara mandapam’.To mark the symbol of prosperity the sheaves were placed at the hands of the presiding deity.