The Puthari Festival is celebrated during mid November or early December. The word Puthari comes from two words, namely ‘Puthan’ meaning ‘New’ and ‘Ari’ meaning ‘Rice’. Harvest festivals involve interesting mythological legends and joyous celebrations. They are as far-fetched and dissimilar as its people and countryside settings and let you understand the exquisiteness of Indian culture.
Puthari Festival is the harvest festival of North Malabar. Rice cultivation is a community-based activity where people rely on each other to uproot and gather. In North Malabar Paddy is harvested around September, when the sun is positioned in the zodiac sign of Scorpio. The festival date is decided based on the appearance of the full moon.
The festival is prominently celebrated in temples of this area, which is the center of all cultural activities. Farmers rejoice at the result of their toil.The festival symbolizes the solemn beginning of the use of new rice from freshly conducted harvest season for offering in the temple.On this day a special dessert called “Undilikkam” is made from fresh rice which is harvested from nearby fields along with mashed Njalipoovan pazham (local variety of banana).
Youngsters from nearby villages take part in these rituals and further arrangements. Puthari is celebrated every year in the same spirit of togetherness, where people get together to uphold their rich tradition.
If you are planning a visit to Poothali, you must plan your trip so that it coincides with the Puthari festival. Make sure that you try the ‘Puthari specialty’. Witness the tradition and ceremonies of the land. At Poothali, you are never too far away from all these age old traditions and rituals.Come and luxuriate in our Home Stay, interact with the natives and immerse yourself in the distinctiveness, the warmth and the very ethnicity of the land.