Pindi Perunnal is the local name used in Thrissur region of Kerala State, India for the feast of Epiphany(Denha thirunnal) especially in and around Irinjalakuda. Denha (Epiphany) is an ancient and important feast of the Saint Thomas Christians. Saint Thomas Christians, like other Eastern Christians, celebrate Denha (Epiphany) as a great feast to commemorate the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan. The liturgical season Denhakalam (Weeks of Epiphany) commemorates the second revelation at the Baptism and the following public life of Jesus. Denha is celebrated on January 6 by Syro-Malabarians in two ways - Pindiperunnal ("Plantain trunk feast") and Rakkuliperunal ("feast with a night bath").
Pindiperunal is common mostly in the northern areas like Trichur region. A specially decorated plantain trunk is erected in front of houses with many torches attached to it. On the previous night of Denha celebration, the family members used to go around it singing a Syriac hymn "El Payya", which means "God is light". Special dishes are prepared during this time, especially meat dishes. Some parishes organise competitions for the best decorated plantain. There are special prayers conducted in certain churches.
Rakkuliperunal is popular in the southern areas like Pala and Muvattupuzha. In imitation of Jesus' Baptism, people used to perform a ritual bath in nearby ponds or rivers singing psalms and other hymns on the previous night (ravu) of the feast of Denha. Thus, the feast began to be known as Rakkuliperunal or 'feast with a night bath'.
Christians further south, e.g. Kollam, have a similar celebration on the same day as Christmas by putting up decorated "pindis" during the procession from church to mark the end of the Christmas period. But, it is not called by any particular name there.
Pindi Perunal in Irinjalakuda
The most prominent of Pindi Perunnal is celebrated in Irinjalakuda. Usually it is celebrated on the Sunday which comes 13 days after Christmas i.e. on 6th of January (if it is a Sunday) or the first Sunday after 6th of January every year. Most of the Irinjalakuda people await the festival for at least two three months in advance. The main celebrations will start on Saturday morning. The start of the festival is heralded by drummings which go through the main roads of Irinjalakuda. This starts a lot of frenzied activities starting from preparing the right plantian in front of the house. Its a proud moment to find a right plantain decorated in front of the house for the house owner.
Also there will be "Sacred Arrow" processes for each family unit, which starts from Saturday. The "Sacred Arrow" is to commemorate the arrows which pierced the body of Saint Sebastian. This is brought to each home to be venerated by the house members, to make offerings. This Sacred Arrow is escorted to the decorated chariots after sometime accompanied by lot of fireworks. These happens mainly on the days of Saturday and Monday.
The main festival is on Sunday. Everyone sporting a new dress eagerly participates in the procession or awaits it. The main procession starts by around 3 PM accompanied by prayers, and is preceded by heavy fireworks. People both near and dear, flock from various places to share the festivities. Its truly an experience which can be only experienced but cannot be told.
The whole of Irinjalakuda will be transformed to some magical land during this festival. To quote an Irinjalakuda person, "Half of the year is spend awaiting the Pindi Perunnal, where as other half is spend re-living the memories of it".