Nurungukal contd ....

        Otu of the 27 NHATUVELAS, some are very important for agriculture viz; KARTHIKA,MKEERYAM, THIRUVATHIRA. Each NHATUYELA  has a duration of 13 days.  There are 27 of them ASWATHI  BHARANI, KARTHIKA.............. and  REVATHI It  is related to the Zodiac formation.

         In KARTHIKA the earth should scorch, in MAKSEERYAM it should rain in cats and dogs,and in THIRUVAATHIRA it should drizle without break. Summer rains are also good for vegitation.

                After Vishu the next ceremony is Nirapara. Usualy it is observed by Land lords. The month of Karkidakam when there will be incesant rain diseases are comon. Just to keep our body healthy and free of illness speciial foods are taken. It is the month of Ramayanam reading. On the first day of this month NIRA PARA is observed. Medicinal plants like NALPAMARAM { athi, ithi, arayal and peral } and Desapushpam { mukkitti, karuka,kayyunni,poovamkurunila, muyalchevi, uzhinha, cheroola, nilappana, thiruthali, krishnakranthi } termeric ,Nelkathir {heads of paddy } etc are collected and brought to the house ceremoniously. I think this event gave us awareness of medicinal plants .  In away it gave importance to biodiversity conservation and agriculure,