Pindikuthi Perunnal () or Rakkuli Perunnal () is a traditional and important festival of

Saint Thomas Christians The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an Ethnoreligious group, ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Ker ...

celebrated on 6 January. Pindikuthi Perunnal is the Saint Thomas Christian counterpart of Denha (

Baptism of Jesus The baptism of Jesus, the ritual purification of Jesus with water by John the Baptist, was a major event described in the three synoptic Gospels of the New Testament ( Matthew, Mark and Luke). It is considered to have taken place at Al-Maghta ...

) in

Eastern church Eastern Christianity comprises Christian traditions and church families that originally developed during classical and late antiquity in the Eastern Mediterranean region or locations further east, south or north. The term does not describe a ...

and Epiphany in Western Church. The liturgical season Denha Kaalam (

Epiphany season The Epiphany season, also known as Epiphanytide or the time of Sundays after Epiphany, is a liturgical period, celebrated by many Christian denomination, Christian Churches, which immediately follows the Christmastide, Christmas season. It begi ...

) begins with the Sunday nearest to Pindikuthi Perunnal.

Etymology

The term ''Pindikuthi'' is a compound

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

word composed of pindi (പിണ്ടി) which means "trunk of the plantain tree" and kuthi (കുത്തി) which is the past simple form of ''kuthal'' that means "to prick or pierce". Therefore, Pindikuthi means "to prick or pierce the plantain trunk". Rakkuli literally means "bath in the night"

Celebrations, rituals and practices

A specially decorated plantain trunk is erected in front of houses with many torches attached to it. On the previous night of Denha celebration, family members used to go around it singing a Syriac hymn "El Payya", which means "God is radiant". Special dishes are prepared during this time, especially meat dishes. Some parishes organise competitions for the best decorated plantain. There are special prayers conducted in certain churches. Saint Thomas Christians certain areas such as

Palai Pallai (, ), also spelt Palai, is a small town in the Kilinochchi District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The town is located under the division of the Pachilaipally Divisional Secretary and is administered by the Pachilaipally Pradeshiya Sa ...

and Pulincunnoo used to perform a ritual bath (in imitation of the Baptism of

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

in the

River Jordan The Jordan River or River Jordan (, ''Nahr al-ʾUrdunn''; , ''Nəhar hayYardēn''), also known as ''Nahr Al-Sharieat'' (), is a endorheic basin, endorheic river in the Levant that flows roughly north to south through the Sea of Galilee and d ...

) on the previous night (ravu) of the feast of Denha in the rivers flowing near the churches in these localities after the solemn celebration of Ramsha, the Evening Liturgy. Pindikuthi Perunnal (sometimes erroneously called Pindi Perunnal) is a prominent celebration in areas such as

Irinjalakuda Irinjalakuda is a municipal town in Thrissur district, Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of Irinjalakuda Revenue Division, Thrissur Rural Police and Mukundapuram Taluk. After Thrissur, this town has most number of administrative, law-enfor ...

and

Kunnamkulam Kunnamkulam is a municipal town located in the Thrissur District of Kerala, India, with historical origins tracing back to the Paleolithic age. Renowned for its deep-rooted cultural heritage, vibrant printing industry, and religious diversity, ...

. Most of the people in Irinjalakuda regardless the caste and creed await the festival for at least two or three months in advance. The main celebrations will start on the morning of previous day. The start of the festival is heralded by drumming which goes through the main roads of Irinjalakuda. This starts frenzied activities starting from preparing the right plantain in front of the house. placing a right plantain decorated in front of the house is a prestigious issue for every house owner. There are also "Sacred Arrow" processes for each family unit, which starts on Saturday. The "Sacred Arrow" is to commemorate the arrows which pierced the body of

Saint Sebastian Sebastian (; ) was an early Christianity, Christian saint and martyr. According to traditional belief, he was killed during the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians. He was initially tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows, though this d ...

. This is brought to each home to be venerated by the house members, to make offerings. This Sacred Arrow is escorted to the decorated chariots after sometime accompanied by a lot of fireworks. These happen mainly on Saturdays and Mondays. The main festival is on Sunday. Everyone sporting a new dress eagerly participates in the procession or awaits it. The main procession starts by around 3:00 pm accompanied by prayers, and is preceded by heavy fireworks. People flock from various places to share the festivities.

Notes

References

{{Reflist Festivals in Kerala Saint Thomas Christians