Valla Sadhya

Valla Sadya is a celebration in the Hindu temple at Aranmula, Kerala, India. During the festival, the village conducts a snake boat race in the Pampa River, and there is a feast at the temple. The Valla Sadhya is conducted on Ashtamirohoni day. During Valla Sadhya, Krishna, the main deity worshipped in the temple, will come to take the offerings from people. The legend is that in a Valla Sadya all dishes asked for must be given to the people in order to please the lord.

Sadya items ready to be served, clockwise from top: paayasam, bittergourd thoran, aviyal, kaalan, lime pickle, sambar; buttermilk with boiled rice in the center

Common offerings

The sadya is a feast of vegetarian food of the ayurvedic tradition. Each meal consists of 10 to 20 dishes served on banana or plantain leaves, and up to 64 dishes on Ashtami Rohini Day, the birthday of Krishna.[1]

Some of the dishes and foods include:

Valla Sadhya

Valla sadya is conducted by the devotees as a "Vazhipadu" to Parthasarathy(another name for Krishna). The Valla sadya is dedicated to any of the boats. On the Valla sadya day, the oarsmen will come to the Temple in the boat through the river. The oarsmen offer Nirapara to the presiding deity at the Nadappanthal in front of the gold plated temple mast and go around the temple chanting Krishna bhajans (Vanchi pattu). The entire atmosphere is charged with the rhythmic Vanchi pattu, songs in praise of Parthasarathy. The `vallasadya' begins immediately after the uccha pooja (noon worship) at the temple. They circumambulate the temple, chanting the `vanchi pattu', verses in praise of Krishna, before partaking of the Valla sadya.

On the day of Krishna’s birthday – Ashtami Rohini day, the Valla sadya is conducted for all the devotees of Parthasarathy. Around 1 lakh people attend this event every year. Most of the palliodams attend this feast.

Events

During the Kerala floods in 2018, the temple remained open for the celebration and 92 offerings were performed.[4]

See also

References
  1. Griffiths, Chris. "An Indian meal with more than 60 dishes". Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. Paitandy, Priyadarshini (26 August 2020). "Want a traditional Onam sadhya? Here's what you can order this year". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  3. "In search of Sadhya". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. "Uncertainty looms over 'Valla Sadhya' at Aranmula temple due to COVID crisis". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
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