The Thiruvathira festival falls on the asterism. Thiruvathira in the Malayalam month of Dhanu(December-January). The origin of the festival isshrouded in obscurity. The people celebrate thisfestival with age-old tradition and they do itwith great joy and respect for the past. The ArdraDarshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu corresponds toThiruvathira of Kerala. It is considered to behigh auspicious to worship Siva and the devoteesgo to the temple before sunrise for 'darshan'.Apart from the worship in the Siva temple, thereis very little celebration in the houses.Tradition has it that Thiruvathira festival iscelebrated in commemoration of the death ofKamadeva, the mythological God of love. Accordingto another version Thiruvathira is the birth dayof Lord Siva.

Even though the Thiruvathira is celebrated by mostof the Hindu communities it is essentially anevent for Nair women. They get up at about 4 amand take a bath on seven days commencing from theasterism Aswathi. While taking a bath they singcertain songs mostly relating to the God of Love,accompanied by rhythmic sound produced bysplashing water with their fists. In conclusionthey stand in a circle in the water hand in handsinging songs. Thiruvathira is a day of fastingand the women discard the ordinary rice meal onthat day, but only take preparations of chama(panicum milicceum) or wheat. Other items of theirfood include plantain fruits, tender coconuts,etc. They also chew betel and redden their lips.Among Namboodiris, Ambalavasis (temple-servants)and high class Nairs, there is a convention thateach woman should chew 108 betels on that day. Thefirst Thiruvathira coming after the marriage of agirl is known as Puthen Thiruvathira orPoothiruvathira and it is celebrated on a grandscale.

From prehistoric times, Malayalee women enjoyed anenviable position in society, and she waspractically the mistress of her house. Theelevated position she occupied had distinguishedher from her neighbours and influenced to aconsiderable extent the social structure, customsand religious practices of the people. Theculmination of this phenomenon is clearly visiblein setting apart one of the three great festivalsof Kerala viz. Thiruvathira, exclusively forwomenfolk, for which a parallel can hardly befound in any section of the Indian Society.

Oonjalattom, swinging on an oonjal (swing) is anitem of amusement on this occasion. At night thewomen keep vigil for Siva and perform Thiruvathirakali or Kaikottikali. They stand in a circlearound a lighted brass lamp, and dance each stepat the rhythm of the songs they sing, clappingtheir hands. The songs sometimes consist ofKathakali songs including the works of IrayimmanThampi.

Among Namboodiris and Amblavasis (temple servants)and Bairs who have close association withNamboodiris, there is custom called Pathirappoochoodal, meaning wearing of flowers atmidnight. At the midnight of Thiruvathira, animage of Siva is placed at the central courtyardand flowers, plantains and jaggery are offered tothe deity. They then perform Kaikottikali roundthe deity. Flowers are taken from the offering andworn by them.

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