Aranmula Ashtamirohini Vallasadya is a grand feast celebrated in connection with the Ashtamirohini festival, which marks the birthday of Lord Krishna. Held at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, this Vallasadya is a unique cultural and religious event.

Key Highlights:

1. Occasion:

• Ashtamirohini Vallasadya is celebrated during the Ashtamirohini festival, which falls on the Rohini Nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September).
• This day commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna.

2. Participants:

• The feast is primarily offered to the oarsmen (rowers) of the snake boats (Palliyodams) who participate in the Aranmula Vallamkali (snake boat race).
• Devotees and visitors also partake in the feast, making it a community event.

3. Rituals and Traditions:

• Before the feast, the rowers ceremonially paddle to the temple, singing traditional boat songs called "Vanchipattu."
• The rowers, dressed in traditional attire, line up in front of the temple where the feast is served.

4. Feast Details:

• The Vallasadya consists of an elaborate vegetarian meal served on banana leaves.
• The meal includes a variety of traditional Kerala dishes such as rice, sambar, avial, thoran, pickles, papadum, and payasam (a sweet dessert).
• The menu often features over 60 different dishes, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.

5. Cultural Significance:

• Ashtamirohini Vallasadya is more than just a meal; it is a mark of respect and gratitude to the rowers.
• The event fosters a sense of community, unity, and devotion among the participants and devotees.
• It showcases the rich cultural heritage and traditional hospitality of Kerala.

6. Community Involvement:

• Thousands of devotees and visitors participate in Ashtamirohini Vallasadya, making it a grand and festive occasion.
• The feast brings the community together in celebration of their shared cultural and religious traditions.