Poochorithal

Poo Chorithal is a traditional practice in South Indian culture, particularly in Tamil Nadu, involving the offering of flowers during religious ceremonies and rituals. The term “Poo Chorithal” translates to “offering flowers,” and it holds significant spiritual and cultural importance. 

The ceremony marks the showering of flowers on Samayapurathu Mariamman. Poochorithal festival is a 28-day long festival celebrated annually over the centuries, starting from the last Sunday of the Tamil Month, Maasi ( March in Gregorian Calendar), and going up to the last Sunday of ‘Panguni.’

The highlight of the annual festival would be that the Moolavar, the Shakti, deviating from the beaten religious track, would herself fast for four weeks in order to safeguard the interests of her countless devotees. This is the only temple in the country where the Moolavar herself, instead of devotees, is fasting for the sake her devotees. It is reported by few devotees that more than one lakh people visited the temple on Sunday. During the period of Amman fasting, the Shakti will not be offered the usual Neiveidyams (offerings of cooked items), but only light drinks such as tender coconut, sugar candy, jiggery water, and butter milk.

The fasting (locally known as Pachai Pattini Viratham) will be observed by the Amman to ward off the negative spell emanating from Her torture of Mayasuran, the villain of the righteous in the religious context.

To mark the occasion, hundreds of locals carried baskets flowers through the Rajaveedhi.s of Samayapuram followed by the ritual procession of temple elephants. The temple and its vicinity wore a festive look, and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department had made elaborate arrangements for the staging of various kinds of folk arts at strategic locations.