Petta Thullal at Erumeli is on the most important event during the Sabarimala Pilgrimage to the Ayyappa Temple Temple
The Petta Thullal is performed to the chanting of Swami Ennakathom… Swami Thinthakathom. The Ambalapuzha team starts their journey from the Ambalapuzha temple a couple of days before the Petta Thullal day. They reach Erumeli after performing Aazhi Puja at the
Ambalapuzha Sangam starts their Petta Thullal after witnessing the Eagle flying round in sky. The popular belief is that Lord Vishnu arrives from Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna temple atop Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, to witness the Petta Thullal.
Each devotee paints his body with green, black and kumkum color. The devotees carry fake weapons like mace, arrows, swords etc.
The Petta Thullal starts from Erumeli Kochambalam (small temple) and reaches the Vavur mosque in Erumeli. Here the devotees circumnavigate the mosque and make offerings and receive mala and elasu. Then they move to the famous Erumeli Petta Shri Dharmasastha Temple
The Alancode Sangam has a more subdued Petta Thullal. This group of Ayyappa devotees only wears black color dress. They don’t wear a cloth on the head and instead they keep Irumudi kettu. They only chant ‘Ayyappo’ and nothing else.
The Alancode devotees smear kalabham on the body and start their Petta Thullal after witnessing the star during the day time in the sky.