Moonu Nombu Thirunal
MOONU NOMBU (Three – day Abstinence)
Moonu Nombu, the prime and renowned feast of the Parish is celebrated to reminisce the conversion of Prophet Jonah. Moonu Nombu alias “The begging of the people of Nineveh” has been one of the premier festivals widespread in Eastern Syrian Church since the sixteenth century. The letter of Archbishop Francis Rose written in 1612 testifies the celebration of Moonu Nombu among St Thomas Christians of the past. Moonu Nombu in Kuravilangad is commemorated in association with the Feast of the Purification of Bl. Virgin Mary on 2 February. Thus, Moonu Nombu is a confluence of feasting and abstinence.
Defying the directive of Yahweh to travel to Nineveh, preach and convert the people of Nineveh from their sinful and immoral life, Jonah, the Prophet fled to Tharsis in a ship. The wrath of God followed Jonah: the otherwise calm sea suddenly became stormy and turbulent nearly wrecking the ship. The panic stricken sailors immediately sensed the presence of someone among them responsible for this mishap. As it was customary they drew lots to discern the unlucky person and the lot fell on Jonah. He was jettisoned anon with his own permission and the sea once again was calmed. The invisible hand of God appeared in the form of a whale that swallowed him. In the belly of the whale, Jonah recognized his folly and sin and pleaded God ruefully to forgive and rescue him. God, acknowledging the prayers of a repentant sinner, directed the whale to vomit Jonah safely on the shore after three days and nights. Taking Jonah as a model, these three days are spent in prayers, contrition and repentance.
In ancient days, it was a part of tradition and custom to camp in temporary sheds in the precincts of the church during the feast. Even today, people from far – flung areas come, sojourn and participate fervently in all the religious ceremonies conducted during the three days of the Festival. Moonu Nombu, unlike other feasts, does not fall on a fixed date in the calendar of the Church. Instead it occurs on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that come 18 days prior to Lent.
THE PROCESSION WITH MINIATURE SHIP
On Tuesday, the second day of Moonu Nombu, , a procession with the miniature ship is taken out to commemorate the journey of Jonah, the prophet who defied the word of God and the subsequent events that had occurred in the ocean such as the tempest in the sea, the jettisoning of Jonah and finally the sea becoming calm. All these are visualized during the procession. It is the one and the only procession in the World carrying the holy image of Abba, the Father.
According to tradition, it is the privilege of the inhabitants of Kadapoore area to carry the ship for the procession. The seafaring people of Kadapoore, centuries ago, faced a severe tempest during one of their voyages. As their ship was about to capsize, they strongly entreated Kuravilangad Muthiyamma and promised to offer a replica of their ship to Kuravilangad church if She salvaged them. Immediately the tempestuous and violent sea became serene. Landing safely on the shore, they fulfilled the promise. The ship, thus, becomes the centre of one of the inevitable rituals of Moonu Nombu.
THE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH ELEPHANT PORTAL.
THE OFFERING CALLED JAGGERY AT ELEPHANT’S MOUTH AND THE PROCESSION ACCOMPANIED BY ELEPHANTS.
During Moonu Nombu, it was customary for people with abdominal diseases to offer jaggery to caparisoned elephants. Since excessive jaggery can cause indigestion to elephants, the faithful after contacting elephant’s tongue with jaggery take it back and eat it because they believe that elephant’ s saliva has therapeutic qualities that can cure abdominal diseases. The legend associated with the elephant portal runs as follows: Once a pilgrim from south to Kuravilangad mistakenly got stranded in the temple at Ettumanoor. In an age of untouchability, the authorities of the temple, seized the non- Hindu for polluting the precincts of the temple and locked him in a tiger’s cage. Angered by the insolence of the temple authorities, the parishioners of Kuravilangad marched to the temple, broke open the cage and released the pilgrim. The infuriated officials of the temple upon reaching Kuravilangad with elephants, tried to break open the main door with the tusk of the elephant. But the tusks were so trapped in the wooden planks of the entrance that the elephant could not pull them out and it started roaring in pain. The officials, searching for a means to extricate the elephants, peeping through the gap of the door, found the Vicar of the Church praying upon his knees with outstretched arms beside the altar. The Vicar, having heard the supplications of the officials, came out of the Church and upon his prayers the elephant’s tusks were freed. Henceforth, caparisoned elephants had been sent from Ettumanoor temple to Kuravilangad for the Moonnu Nombu festival. In return, the parish handed over embroidered umbrellas to the temple. This custom had been continued till recently. Caparisoned tuskers, during Moonnu Nombu, are unique features of Kuravilangad.
THE ARRAY OF THE PROCESSION
Festivals, for the parish are pursuance of traditions and rituals meticulously. Caparisoned elephants, fire balls, Aalavattom and Venchamaram are special facets of the procession at Kuravilangad. The people of Kalikave carry the holy statues and Kanivelil family of Muttuchira holds the embroidered ceremonial umbrellas during the procession following a specific order.
On the Monday of Moonu Nombu, processions from five regions- Pakalomattom, Thottuva, Kozha Kurianad and Kuravilangad Parish – meet together at the Jubilee Chapel and proceed to the parish in unison. The procession from the Parish begins from St. Sebastian’s Church with fireballs held aloft at the front. Of the holy statues in Cheriapally St. Sebastian is taken out for procession with the escort of Drums, Flags, and ‘Aalavattom (Decorated Shield), Churutty, Thazha and Ceremonial umbrellas enters the major Church. After placing the relics at the altar, prayers with the thuribles are conducted. Then standing face to face, St Sebastian invites Bl. Virgin Mary, installed at the Narthex, to the procession. Then the holy statues of St Joseph and Mar Ougen join the array of holy statues for procession to the Jubilee Chapel with St. Joseph at the forefront followed by Bl. Virgin Mary, St Ougen, St Sebastian and other holy statues. The band is stationed in front of the holy statue of Bl. Virgin Mary.
A definite system is kept from time immemorial for the procession for entering the Jubilee chapel. The procession from Pakalomattom enters the chapel with the statue of St Thomas ahead of others, encircles the chapel, and emerges out on to the Church road. Then procession from the Major Church goes into the chapel, encircles it and halts the statues of Bl. Virgin Mary and St Sebastian at the chapel. Other holy statues come out of the chapel and stay at the Church road in the order St. Thomas, St Joseph and other holy Statues. Processions from Thottuva carrying the image of St. Alphonsa and Kurianadu with St. Theresa of Lisieux enter the Church in third and fourth positions, encircle the chapel and rally behind the other statues on the Church road. The last to enter the chapel is the procession from Kozha carrying Infant Jesus. It is positioned between the holy statues of Bl. Virgin Mary and St. Sebastian. After prayers (Ladeenj) at the chapel, the procession proceeds to the Major Church with St Joseph at the forefront followed by Bl. Virgin Mary, St. Thomas, St. Ougen, St. Alphonsa, St. Theresa, St. Sebastian and Infant Jesus.
After paying obeisance to the imposing Granite Cross in front of the Church, the procession marches around the Major Church and halts at the fascia of the Church where St Sebastian face -to -face with Bl. Virgin Mary bids farewell to her and proceeds alone to the Minor Church. While other holy statues are placed in the façade of the Major Church, ceremonial umbrellas and musical band accompany St Sebastian to his seat and return. The Gold Cross and candle sticks taken out from the Minor Church are placed beside the Statue of the Saint.
On the second day, Tuesday, the procession takes off from the Major Church with the accompaniment of Ladeenj ( Adulation to Bl. Virgin Mary) to the Minor Church with 8 holy statues in the order –St. Joseph, Bl. V. Mary, St. Thomas, St. Ougen, St.Theresa of Lissieux, St. Antony and Infant Jesus. Among these 8 holy statues, the image of Bl. Virgin Mary alone enters the minor Church to invite St. Sebastian to the procession. From the minor Church, the statues of St. George, St. Michael and St. Augustine are also taken out to the procession occupying places just before Infant Jesus. All the statues stand facing the Minor Church. A bronze lamp is held aloft on the fourth step of the Minor Church in front of the rally. During this time, caparisoned elephants carrying holy images of saints, the main tusker holding the image of Bl. Virgin Mary, arrive at the grotto of Holy family from the place where jaggery at elephant’s mouth is offered. When there is more than one tusker, they carry the holy images of St. Sebastian and St. Alphonsa. While these arrangements continue in the Minor Church, the Archpriest, after prayers and blessing at the Major Church, grants permission to the people of Kadapoor to carry the ship. The procession begins only when the ship is taken out into the yard of the Church and with hoisted flags runs up three times the steps of the Church. The procession of the ship is taken out to the front and right side of the Church. The ship now runs up the steps of the Minor Church to kiss the cross. However, only at the third attempt the ship could kiss the bronze Cross held aloft. Meanwhile the caparisoned tuskers reaching the Elephant Portal of the Major church offer their obeisance to Bl. Virgin Mary holding aloft their proboscis. Then the elephants approaching the granite cross pay homage to it.
The ship voyages from the Minor Church to the portico of the Major Church and once again paying deference to Muthiyamma, journeys to the Garden of the Granite Cross. On arriving in front of the Cross, the ship runs three times to and fro towards east– south directions. Then, the ship’s front portion intimately touching the foot of the Cross pays reverence to the Cross for a few moments. The procession once again picks up and when the Ship arrives at the south side of the Cross, the ship violently tossing up and down in the turbulent sea is visualized by the carriers. The effervescent action subsides only when Jonah, the Prophet, is thrown out of the ship.
Only when the 18 priests who carry various relics of different saints during the procession on Tuesday arrive at the foot of the Cross, the obeisance to the Cross begins. The procession, after paying homage to the Cross, circles the Major church. When the pageant arrives at the façade of Major Church, the ship enters the church with flags down. After bidding farewell to each other at the courtyard, the holy statues, taken out from the Major and Minor Churches, return to their original positions.
On Wednesday, the third Day of Moonu Nombu, the holy figurines of St Joseph, Bl. Virgin Mary and St. Ougen join the procession to the jubilee chapel. After ladeenj at the chapel, the procession goes round the chapel, marches towards the Major church and once again after paying tribute to the Cross, enters the Church.