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Goddess Temple

Attukal Bhadra Kali Temple

Excursion 1: Attukal Bhadra Kali Devi Temple

During our visit to the south, we will take a half day to visit and make offerings at the famous Attukal Bhadra Kali Devi Temple in Trivandrum. This Devi temple is one of the most well-known goddess temples in India. More than six million women will attend its Pongal Festival in late February, making it the largest spiritual gathering of women in the world. Bhadra Kali is the benevolent form of Hindu goddess Kali. She is the changing aspect of nature that bestows liberation and bring things to life or death. Kali is described as being black in color. Her hair is shown disheveled, small fangs sometimes protrude from her mouth, and her tongue is wild and lolling. She is often shown naked or wearing just a skirt made of human arms and a garland of male human heads. In spite of her seemingly terrible form, Bhadra Kali Ma is considered the kindest and most loving of all the Hindu goddesses, as she is regarded by her devotees as the Mother of the whole Universe. We will visit the temple and make flower offerings to Kali at the inner sanctum with the guidance of the resident priests. Bring a sincere loving heart, a handful of fragrant flowers, and be prepared to release whatever limits you in life. She will take whatever prevents us from being truly free.

Jungle Boat Ride

Kerala Backwaters

Excursion 2: Jungle Boat Ride Through the Kerala Backwaters

On another fun excursion, we will take a small boat ride through the famous Kerala backwaters. The backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem: freshwater from the rivers and monsoons meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. Some associate it with imagery from Joseph Conrad’s novel ‘The Heart of Darkness’, river scenes from Apocalypse Now, and Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’. Either way, it’s a peaceful and magical tour. Bring your bathing suit for a celebratory dip in the Arabian Sea on this outing.

Ganesha Puja

The Remover of Obstacles

Excursion 3: Ganesha Puja at Azhimala Siva Temple

We are fortunate to be just a 10-minute beach walk from one of the most famous Siva temples in the Trivandrum area of Kerala. The Azhimala Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Siva, his consort Parvati, and their child Ganesha, the elephant-headed ‘Remover of Obstacles’. At sunset, our group will perform a Ganesha Puja, a sacred ceremony that removes inner obstacles in our lives. The puja will be instructed to the group beforehand, but let’s just say it has something to do with releasing what holds us back in life and cracking coconuts at the Ganesha alter. It’s both spiritually therapeutic and fun. After the puja, we will witness daily pujas conducted by Brahmin priests to Lord Siva, Parvati and Ganesha with dozens of local families in attendance.

Elephants

Elephant Rides

Special Activity: Elephant Rides at Somatheeram

On all of our annual visits to AyurSoma and sister properties, we plan an elephant riding day. A local elephant caretaker will walk a beautiful Asian elephant to the Somatheeram property just for our group to meet, pet, and ride if you’re adventurous enough to climb on! No worries, it’s very safe and a once in a lifetime, bucket list thing to do! Don’t miss out. Ask the caretaker for the elephant to give you a “Ganesha Blessing”! The elephant will touch your crown chakra with this trunk. Be sure to get a photo of that!
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