Sasthapreethi traditions

THIS POST IS COURTESY THE PALAKKAD PATTARS YAHOO GROUP.
Shabari Yatra, Ayyappa Pooja and Sasthapreethi are the three, most well known events that dot the Tamil religious months of Karthigai, Maargazhi and Thai. Devotees of Lord Ayyappa, who presides in his temple atop the Shabari hills, go through a 41-day penance (viratham) which includes both mental and physical cleansing. This viratham is among the most rigorous and is sure to discipline even the most distracted minds and bodies among us mortals.
Ayyappa devotees rise at dawn, bathe in cold water before performing their other religious duties and similarly bathe in cold water again at dusk followed by prayers to Lord Ayyappa. This routine combined with a conditioned mind that practices celibacy through this 41-day course is a great fulfiller and liberator. Climbing the Shabari forests and hills which is considered as one of the most arduous pilgrimages becomes easy with the 41-day viratham and the chanting of the celebrated three words " Swamiye  Saranam Ayyappa" – Oh Lord Ayyappa, I come to Thee for refuge.
Apart from engendering mystical and spiritual feelings among the devotees, the pilgrimage includes bhakthi, equality of all men before God and tolerance. The temple doors of Shabarimala are open to everyone irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social status. The high and low meet on equal terms in the presence of the Lord who is known as Dharmasastha – one who teaches and upholds dharma.
Sasthapreethi is a time tested mode of worshipping Lord Dharmasastha in a very religious way by various samoohams and organizations in and around Kerala, and now in all parts of the country and abroad.  The religious pooja is given more importance followed by Annadhanam.  Generally the pooja on Sasthapreethi day comprises of MahaganapathiHomam, Mahanyasa Japam, Rudrabhishekam, Rudra Kramaarchana, Sastha Avahanam, Ayyappa Sahasranamarchana, Deeparadhana, Chaturvedaparayanam and singing of traditional Ayyappa songs.
The Date of Sasthapreethi
 While the samooham following Palakkad Sampradyam, the date of Sasthapreethi is fixed as the Saturday after the completion of the mandalam (40 day period from 1 st of karthikamaasam to 10th of margazhi viz between 16th Nov and 26th Dec approximately as per English calendar).
If this Saturday falls on an Amavasya or Shasti thithi or Dwadasi day the function is extended to the next Saturday.   This criterion is applied because the villagers / devotees are to have an oil bath on the Sasthapreethi as per tradition and oil bath cannot be had on an Amavasya / Shasti thithi/Dwadasi day.
The other samooham in Kerala celebrating Sasthapreethi is the Paandi Samooham and the date for Sasthapreethi is fixed as a Saturday immediately after Makara Sankranthi(14th January).  Again the same criteria like avoid Saturdays falling on Amavasya orShasti thithi or Dwadasi day is followed.  This schedule is followed at Kochi, 'Thekkethalam' conducted by Karandaiyar Palayam Samooham – a few residents who migrated from Kalidakurchi and surroundings in Tirunelveli District.
Other samoohams around Kochi like Parur, Alappuzha etc., have it on subsequent Saturdays in the months of makaram and kumbham.
Sasthapreethi celebrations by various other organizations around the country and abroad have it on a holiday to enable devotees to participate in large numbers.
Traditional Sasthapreethi Songs
After archana, neivedyam and deeparadhana followed by mantrapushpam andashtavadanaseva, traditional songs are sung by groups familiar with the songs
There are 2 sets of traditional songs one followed by Palakkad sampradhayam and the other one Paandi samooham.  The traditional songs are known as Avesha paatu inPalakkad and surroundings and virutham and avathara shlokas in Kochi and surrounding areas. In second style shlokas invoking Ganapathi, Saraswathi, Shastha, Chellapillai,Yakshi, Sangili Bhoothathan and other Parivara Devathas are sung.
Velichapadu / Sthanakkaarar
With the singing of these songs the traditional upasakas of the respective deities are inspired and become emotional. These upasakas are offered respect by the devotees and upacharas are done to them. They bless the devotees with prasadam and convey the deity's satisfaction in the conduct of the Sasthapreethi. Any shortfall in the conduct is also pointed out occasionally.  Again in paandi samooham Sasthapreethi invoking of Lord and other parivara devathas are done elaborately in the late evening of the same day extended over to wee hours of the next day.
Elaikattu
Eleven or more plantain leaves (Nuni elai)  are bundled and decorated with sandal paste,kumkum and flowers and kept in the sannidhanam of the Lord during the pooja and is handed over by the velichapad / sthanakkarar alongwith vibhuthi prasadam to the President of the samooham or the main person organizing the pooja after the invocation of Sastha.   Only after this ritual, prasadam is served to the public.  In the absence of the velichapad, the Chief priest performing the pooja hands this over to the President along with the prasadam.

The Food
Generally the menu of the food during Sasthapreethi is a traditional Kerala type; paachadi,kuttukari, avial, thoran, kalan, olan, puliyinji, pickles, pappadam,  sambar,  rasam, palpayasam and chatha chathayam.  Other sweets are also added depending upon the convenience. Serving of ellurundai is a must in Kochi and other places.  At Parur, five different paayasams are prepared and offered as prasadam.
In evenings different programmes are arranged as per tradition and convenience.
In conclusion, the Lord accepts any form of worship with devotion and dedication and to those who cast their ego and with absolute surrender and purity prayerfully call out to Him "Swamiyae Sharanam Ayyappa", for them He is always there, ever ready to take them under His benign shelter and bestow upon them health, wealth , happiness and prosperity.
Loka  Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu
Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa