Panchayat/ Municipality/ Corporation Corporation

LOCATION District Thrissur

Nearest Town/ Raghavendra Bhajana Madom – 85 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus Statio Bus Stop (Premji Road) – 400 m

Nearest Railway – 7.5 Km Statio Punkunnam Railway Station – 1.3 Km ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 54.6 Km

Sree Seetha Ramaswamy Devaswom Harinagar, Punkunnam Thrissur – 680002 Phone: +91-487-2386260 CONTACT Email: [email protected] DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME 10-18 May Annual 9 Days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Vasantholsavam is an annual cultural event of music and dance at the Seetha Ramaswamy Temple. The 9-day event is symbolic of the arrival of spring and an expression of human harmony with nature. Hence it is celebrated with much devotion at the shrine with Lord Rama as the presiding deity alongside his consort Sita. The festival is a tribute to divine forces and is a prayer offering for the welfare and prosperity of the society. Musical and instrumental renditions and classical dance performances are the highlight s of the event.

National Above 5000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) The music and dance festival is a gracefully celebrated event with many eminent artistes performing at the temple to Vocal Music Concerts pay obeisance to Lord Rama and his consort Sita. The Instrumental Music festival starts with the sowing of nine seeds and is a Concerts considered a gesture of welcoming the spring. Vasthu Bhajana Renditions Shanthi, a ritual that deals with planetary activities is a Classical Dances significant ritual associated with the festival. Most of the rituals of the festival are however restricted to devotees or those performing the seva.