Poorotsavam or Pooram is a very beautiful and very special festival celebrated only in some parts of Kannur and Kasaragod districts in northern Kerala . Though the name is Pooram, Pooram in North Kerala is not a celebration like the famous Tyassur Pooram or Poorams held in other temples. Poorotsavam is a nine-day long festival from Karthika Nakshatra to Pooram Nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Meenam. This festival is known as Vasantotsavam(Festival of flowers) of north Kerala where girls worship Lord Kama with flowers.
Girls play the most important role in Poorotsavam. On Poora days, the main ritual is to make a Kama Vigraha out of soil or cow dung and decorate it with flowers. Idols made like this are called Kaman. In some places, the Kama Deva idol is made with flowers only, without using soil or dung.
In some places Pooram is celebrated only for seven days instead of nine days. In the first days of Puram, puja is done with just flowers, then an idol of Lord Kama is made. Those who celebrate the seven days of Pooram perform the puja for the first three days with just flowers and for the next four days with dung or soil to make kamans. In the first days, the puja is done by the side of the well and later in the yard infront of house. There is variation in the numbers of Kaman in many places. Kaman is usually made in the number of three, five, seven, nine and then big kaman (thondan kaman) as each day goes by respectively. Flowers like chemka flower, murikin flower, narayan flower and erinhi flower are used for the puram.
Flowering and puja are usually performed by girls with the help of elders in the house, and in places where girls are not available, boys or elders themselves perform these ceremonies. The girls who perform Poora rituals are called Poora Kunjikal. (Kunjikal is the northern Kerala version of the word kids). There is also the ritual of pouring water on flowers or Kama vigraha by Purakkunjikal in the concept of giving water to Kamadev every day. The last day of Pooram festival is known as Pooram Kuli Day. On the last day, there are some ceremonies to send Kaman away. On the day of the journey, Kaman is given porridge in the afternoon and a spcial dish Ada in the evening. Ada is prepared by adding jaggery, coconut, cardamom powder and rice flour.
On the ninth day, after dusk, the rituals of sending Kaman away begin. As a symbol of the journey, the worshiped flowers and Kama idol are lit and placed under a nearby jack fruit tree or any other tree that has milk or at any designated place. People will sing some folks songs, that include some lines with meaning next year please come back early while sending Kaman away.
The legend behind Puraghosha is actually related to a story of Lord Shiva and Kamadeva. After the death of Goddess Sati, the saddened Lord Shiva began to do penance. But the devas decided to create love for Goddess Parvati in Shiva’s mind. Accordingly, Lord Kamadeva sprinkled the flower arrow on Shiva’s body and left. But Lord Shiva woke up from his penance and trembled with anger and opened his third eye and burnt Kamadeva to ashes.
Lord Kamadeva’s wife Rati Devi and the deities became very sad when they heard that Kamadeva was reduced to ashes. They awakened their grief by actually seeing Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva who was saddened by the grief of Devi Rati and the deities. He consoled them by telling them that he would reincarnate Lord Kama. Lord Shiva also asked the deities to make Kamadeva’s form out of flowers and pray. Thus Kamadeva was reborn. It is believed that Purakali is celebrated as a symbol of the rebirth of Kamadeva, where the deities danced and Parameswaran also took part in the dance. While the Poorotsavam is celebrated by girls, Poorakali is played by men.
Apart from houses, Puram is also celebrated in some Kavus(Temple). Puram festival in Madai Kavu is very famous
