Valla Sadhya

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

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, Lord 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.

Common offerings

108 dishes

• Parippu - A thick lentil dish eaten with rice, papadum and ghee.
• Sambar
• Rasam
• Aviyal
• Kaalan
• Olan
• Koottukari
• Kichadi
• Pachadi
• Injipuli
• Thoran
• Achar: Spicy pickled raw mango, lemon, or lime

Valla Sadhya

The Valla sadya is a unique mass feast with strong devotional moorings, given to the crew of Palliyodams (snake boats) which the devotees consider a divine vessel of Lord Krishna, the presiding deity of Aranmula Sree ParthaSarathy Temple. People from different Palliodams reach the temple in their respective boats to take part in the Valla sadya.

Valla sadya is conducted by the devotees as a "Vazhipadu" to the lord Parthasarathy(another name for Lord 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 Lord Parthasarathy. The `vallasadya' begins immediately after the uccha pooja (noon worship) at the temple. They are given a rousing reception. They circumambulate the temple, chanting the `vanchi pattu', verses in praise of Lord 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 Lord Parthasarathy. Around 1 lakh people attend this event every year. Most of the palliodams attend this feast. Rice with 45 side dishes are served at the Sadya on banana leaves including the following side dishes.

Adaprathaman(Pudding); Aravana payasam. (Pudding made from rice, jaggery and ghee); Aval (flattened rice); Avial (Mixed vegetable curry); Banana chips; Chammanthi podi (Chutney with chillies); Chukku vellum (dried ginger water); Curd; Ellunda (gingelly ball); Fried banana; Ghee; Ginger curry; Holy water from river Pampa; Kaalhen (curry made from curds); Kaalipazham payasam (Pudding made of banana); Kalkandum (Sugar candy); Kadala Prathaman (made of Bengal gram) ; Kychadi (Curry made of rice and gram); Mango curry; Munthiri pachadi (Curry made of grapes); Olen, (mixed curry); Pacchadi (A vegetable curry); Paal payasm (Pudding made of Milk); Pachamoru; Pulisserry (Curry prepared with thick and sour buttermilk); Resam; Red Cheera Thoran (made with a variety of amaranthus); Sambar; Thakara Thoran (Thoran with cassia tora); Unniappam.

See also

• Aranmula
• Palliyodam
• Snake boat
• Aranmula Boat Race

External links

• http://www.aranmula.net
• http://www.aranmulavallamkali.com
• https://www.templespedia.com/aranmula-vallasadya-dishes/