Only two days after the annual Temple Festival, on Friday 21 February, Thrikkaipetta celebrated another hindou festivity. Maha Shivaratri is a national holiday and celebrated all over India.
The festival, celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva, is also known as “Padmarajarathri” and “The Great Night of Shiva”. The day marks the remembrance of overcoming darkness and ignorance in life and the world. It is said that Maha Shivaratri marks the anniversary of the cosmic dance performed by Lord Shiva.
The villagers of Thrikkaipetta celebrated this special night with much pride, joy and fanfare. The procession was led by the women of the village wearing traditional Kerala sarees and holding lights and offerings, followed by musicians and dancers and finally by actors on a wagon symbolically representing Shiva and Parvati. The procession began in the Kavu near the Uravu Bamboo Grove Resort and ended at the Thrikkaipetta Shiva Temple, where the celebrations continued with shows and dances throughout the night.
