Dhanu Thiruvathira Festival

Thiruvathira Festival is celebrated in Kerala on the Thiruvathira day of the Dhanu month (December-January) in the Malayalam calendar. There are many stories regarding the origin of this festival. It is said to be the day on which lord Shiva agreed to become the husband of goddess Parvati, as a reward for her severe penance. Another version is that Thiruvathira festival is celebrated in commemoration of the death of Kamadeva, the mythological god of love. Yet another version is that Thiruvathira is the birth day of Lord Shiva. Special pujas are offered to the deity on this day.

An observance called Thiruvathira Noyambu is kept by the women folk on this auspicious day, with the prayer to get good husbands. They discard rice meals and consume only plantains, fruits and tender coconut. Puthenthiruvathira or Poothiruvathira is the first Thiruvathira of a girl after her marriage. During the festival a dance form called Thiruvathirakali is performed.