Punarjani ritual: Devotees to crawl through holy tunnel

Hundreds of devotees will crawl through the Punarjani tunnel, a ritual known as Punarjani Noozhal, on the rocky hills near Vilwadirnatha temple in Thiruvilwamala in Thrissur district on Friday.

The ritual, believed to be equal to end the karmas of present life and getting re-born, is performed each year on Guruvayur Ekadasi.

The Punarjani is a 150-metre-long natural tunnel in Bhoothamala, about three km from the Vilwadrinatha temple. After completing the ritual of dipping at various holy theerthas, the devotees will crawl through the dark tunnel.

The belief is that crawling through the Punarjani tunnel will wipe out the sins committed in this worldly life. After the crawl, devotees will bathe at the Kombu and Ambu theerthas.

Hundreds of devotees from various places, including Tamil Nadu, had reached the Vilwadrinatha temple on Thursday itself.

In Ottapalam in Palakkad district, a Narayaneeyam discourse will be held on Friday as part of Ekadasi celebrations at the Sree Krishna temple at Poozhikkunnu. It was at this temple that Chembai Vydyanatha Bhagavathar had given his last concert, hours before his death.

A Laksharchana Mahayajnam will start at the Sree Ayyappa temple at Sidhdhaputhur in Coimbatore on Friday. According to temple officials, the yajna will conclude on December 12.