A grand procession originates from Thiruchendur to Nagercoil on the 19th of Masi representing the way of Vaikundar after the Avataram to
Detchanam, and another procession starts from
Thiruvananthapuram to
Nagercoil, on the same date representing the release of
Lord Vaikundar from the jail of Singarathoppe. Both meet at
Nagercoil in the evening and at the next early morning, on the 20th of Masi the
Vaikunda Jayanthi Orvalam originates from
Nagercoil to
Swamithoppe with several devotees. This is one of the largest festivals of the district which attracts a large crowd.
Thiruchendur Procession As per the scriptures of
Ayyavazhi the incarnation of
Vaikundar was from the Sea of
Tiruchendur on 20th of Masi. So on celebrating this event the nationwide followers of Ayyavazhi assemble at Tiruchendur on that day (19th Masi or 3 March) at
Avatharappathi, the
Pathi erected on the sea-shore where Vaikundar is believed to be incarnated. ,
Tiruchendur On 18th Masi, (previous day) night the festival at
Tiruchendur is celebrated in a grand scale and several conferences, cultural programs and
Anna Dharmams were held and the celebration goes on for the full night. Then on the 19th Masi morning, around 8 O' clock the people assembled there will take a holy bath in the Sea of Thiruchendur under the leadership of
Avathara pathi Dharmaghartta's. This practise of taking bath (holy dip) at
Thiruchendur on the day of Vaikunda Avatar is considered sacred. The Dharmaghartta's applies sacred 'Namam' on everybody's forehead. Then around 9 O' clock the procession starts from
Tiruchendur under the leadership of Dharmaghartta's. The people follows Dharmaghartta's chanting
"Ayya Siva-siva Siva-siva ara-kara ara-kara". Several vehicles such as trucks, vans and cars follow the procession. The procession goes through
Seerkatchi,
Nainarpathu,
Udangudi,
Chettiarpuram,
Theriyoor,
Santhayadi, Kottankadu,
Muthukrishnapuram,
Padukkapathu,
Thattarmadam,
Thisayanvilai and reaches
Erumaikulam at noon. Here the people participate in
Anna Dharmam. Then, the procession starts from here and travels through
Ayankulam,
Karaichuthupudur,
Koodankulam,
Chettikulam,
Chalaipudur,
Avaraikulam,
Ambalavanapuram,
Aralvaimozhi,
Thovalai and reaches
Athalavilai.
Thiruvananthapuram Procession Lord Vaikundar, was released from the Jail of
Singarathoppe on 19th Masi, (3 March) after the trial with the king of
Travancore,
Swathi Thirunal. After the release Lord was carried in a
Vahana to
Swamithoppe, by his followers. So on celebrating this event the people used to go to
Thiruvananthapuram on that day and go as a procession to
Swamithoppe. Though religiously, this celebration is not associated with the incarnation of Vaikundar, since it coincides with that day it too is commonly seen as an incarnational fest and is celebrated in the same vein. Though this was an on-foot procession for some years, now it was changed as a vehicle procession. Most of the people who participate in this procession are from
Kerala. Like wise the
Tiruchendur procession. The procession starts from
East Fort to
Nagercoil through the
Thiruvananthapuram -
Kanyakumari Highway (NH - 47). It passes through the towns of
Balaramapuram,
Parasala,
Kaliyakkavilai,
Marthandam, and
Thuckalay and finally reaches
Athalavilai around 6.30 pm. ==Celebration in Nagercoil==