Thalappoli

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.^[1][2] This was regularly practiced in the temples of bhagavathy (Bhadrakali).^[3]

Thalappoli festivalis observed in many Hindu temples across Kerala. some noted temples include Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple,^[4] Pattupurackal Bhagavathy Temple,^[5] Chengannur Mahadeva Temple,^[6] Thalappoli performed by virgins girls is an important ceremony in Attukal Temple.^[7] Pilleru thalappoli, the thalappoli by kids is performed at Guruvayur temple.^[8] In Kottankulangara Devi Temple in Chavara, there is a special ritual where men dress up as women and perform thalappoli.^[9]

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).^[10] It is believed that its simplified form was transformed into talappoli.^[10]

There is another argument that 'Thalappoli' is related to Buddhism and Jainism that existed in Kerala.