Mannarasala Ayilyam

The festival's highlight is the grand procession, or Ezhunallathu, where serpent idols from the temple and the sacred grove are carried to the Illam, the ancestral Brahmin home that manages the temple. The priestess, Valiya Amma, leads the procession, carrying the idol of Nagaraja, the presiding deity. Special prayers and offerings are performed at the Illam, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere.

The Mannarasala Ayilyam festival, celebrated in Thulam, gained prominence due to an interesting historical event. It was customary for the Maharaja of Travancore to visit the temple on Ayilyam day in the month of Kanni. However, one year, the Maharaja had to postpone his visit to Ayilyam day in Thulam. The royal palace funded the celebrations, giving the festival a regal grandeur that continues to this day. Ayilyam days in Kanni and Kumbham are also celebrated with great enthusiasm, marking the birthdays of Nagaraja and Anantha, respectively.

During Ezhunalathu, Valiya Amma carries the idol of Nagaraja, followed by Cheriya Amma with the idol of Sarpayakshi Amma, and two senior male members carrying the idols of Nagayakshi Amma and Nagachamundi Amma. The procession reaches the Illom where the priestess performs her daily Thevaram and the Ayilyam Pooja. While Ayilyam Pooja is conducted on every Ayilyam, the Ezhunallathu procession is unique to the months of Kumbham, Kanni, and Thulam.

Another significant ritual associated with the festival is the Pulasarpam Pattu, an annual offering in Pulakkavu, located northeast of the Illom. The primary pooja here is Nurum Palum, performed by Valiya Amma, particularly on Ayilyam day in Kumbham or subsequent Ayilyams.