Pooja and rituals at Perne Shree Muchilot Bhagavathi Kshetra are occasional and performed on special days of every month and on festivals. Daily pooja is not offered here. Rituals are performed through prayers using flowers, fruits, rice, and appam.
Every morning temple surroundings are cleaned (Adichu Teli), and in the evening "Deepa" is lit by the priest (Naltyar). At the beginning of every month (Sankramana) and on the first Tuesday, Pooja is offered to the god by the priest.
Festival season begins on the last Sankramana of Karkataka (Karkhidakam) month. The temple is opened on this day, and "Hostilu" pooja is performed. The threshold of the shrine is cleaned, and pooja is offered by dropping flowers over it. This practice is repeated for 30 days of Simha (Chingam) month. "Hostilu" pooja is also performed in every household of the Vaniya community.
The festival of light, Chevva Vilak, is carried out on the 28th day of the "Simha" month. The Komaras, Nalthyars (Andithiriyan), Karnavas, Chettiyan, Randadk come together on this day along with people from the community. On the day, in the morning at Shree Kshetra Ananathapura, "Kalasha Snanam" is performed on Komaras and Nalthyars. After offering "Karthika pooja" at the Ananthapura temple, Bhandaram is brought from Ananathapuram to Perne in the evening. "Appa Prasadam" preparation is initiated by Nalthyars then followed by youngsters of the community. Later with the permission of "Padipura," pooja is performed. Lastly, Acchanamar's "Kulichu Nikkal" and "Darshanam" are experienced.
The traditional harvest festival is called Puthari. ‘Puthari’ means new paddy. It's celebrated on the day scheduled on simha maasa Chevva Vilak festival. The annual festival of bringing in new crops to the temple is celebrated at Perne with traditional gaiety and religious fervor. Appam is prepared from the new Rice, and it is offered to the god. After that, all the gatherings will be served with food. "Vidhyarambham," a ceremony for the children before they start formal school education, and "Annaprashana," an infant's first intake of food other than milk, are also carried out on the same day.
This important festival begins on the Sankramana of the Vrischika masa. People from all regions gather together on this day. Community members who observe austerities for a specified day will prepare "Appam." Appam is prepared for every festival except Kootam, but in this festival, devotees are allowed to offer "Appam" to god as a votive offering. Night Udayasthamana Pooja is performed. The next day, Bhandaram is brought from the Ananathpura, and at night "Kulichu nikkal" is experienced. Appa prasadam is distributed to the gathering. The temple ensures that each and every family from the community receives the prasadam. The next day "Pandala Mangalam" and Community marriage takes place.
Pooram kali is a traditional dance ritual performed by men during the nine-day Pooram festival in Bhagavathi temples. The Pooram festival begins with the Karthika asterism and concludes with the Pooram asterism of the month of Meenamasa according to the Malayalam calendar to honor Kamadeva, the god of love.
The Pooram kali dance itself is performed by a troop of young men decked in lion costumes around a huge, multi-tiered, lit lamp, also known as a "Nilavilukku." The dance involves masculine movements and acrobatic, martial art steps. No singers or musicians accompany the dance; instead, the dancers themselves keep rhythm by singing, clapping, and executing synchronized foot-thumping movements. The dancers usually observe a month of abstinence and undergo strenuous practice before the performance. Most of the songs sung are hymns from The Ramayana or The Bhagavata.
Pooram Kali in Perne has its own uniqueness in rituals and celebration. It is celebrated in Mina Masa. People from the community gather in Perne six days ahead (Pushya nakshatra) of the full moon day. Bandara is brought on the day, and a booth (Chappara) is put up. For five days, the custom of "Hu hakuvudu" takes place. This custom is done by Naltyar of the Shrine, and the rituals vary in their style each day. Every day during this festival, rituals and poojas are offered to the God. On the last day, Acchanmar Kulichu Nikkel, Darshana are witnessed. All these celebrations put together are called "Poorostavam."
On this occasion, "Pooram kali" is done in Kavu. Vaniyar's don't play it; it's generally done by Yadava's or Maniyani's from the Mulleria, Karadka area. They come to Perne on the second day, and they play Pooram Kali for about two hours. They stand in a circle in front of Bhagavathi Devi shrine with a big lamp (Deepa) in the middle. To begin with, Ganapthi shotra is sung, followed by song stories of various gods. On the last day, Pooram kali starts in the morning and ends with Kulichu Nikkel. In the end, they take revolutions around the temple to seek blessings of Devi along with Darshana people. "Kannagat Bhagavathi" is the goddess of Yadavas, and she shares the same shrine with Muchilot Bhagavathi. This could be the reason for celebrating Pooram Kali in Perne.
This is the last festival in Perne. It is celebrated on the 18th day of the Mesha month. Devotees bring Balivadu. Bhandara is brought from the Ananthapura, followed by Kulich Nikkal of Acchanmar. Shree Vishnumorthi Daiva's darshana team perform activities to send out the evil forces from the surroundings of the temple. The next day cleaning of Kshetram is done by Tanri. Guliga nema is also performed on the same day. Bhandara is sent back to Ananthapura, and the temple door is closed (Nada adakal). The next festival is celebrated in Simha masam.
Kaliyatam (Perum Kaliyattam) is the most important festival in Perne. It’s a seven-day celebration. It’s carried out once every twelve to fifteen years if financial condition is stable. The theyyam is performed in front of the shrine for almost every deity of the shrine continuously for seven days, the last being that of the Devi Bhagavathi. Kaliyatam is a culture in itself, and theyyam is a treat to watch. Lakhs of devotees converge here during the occasion, and food is served to all every day.
Jati Kuri is a ritual observed by every household in the Ganiga/Vaniya community. For efficient management, the community is segmented into five sections: Iyyayirabattam, Moovariyabattam, Vitla Seeme, Elu Seeme, and Sullia Seeme. This ceremony is conducted once a month or bi-monthly in each division. Participants must pre-register (Kuri Panam) to host the pooja. The selection of the hosting house is done in sequential order from the registered list. When a family's kuri occurs, members from other registered households visit and contribute panam. These visitors must announce the names of all the homes they have visited during their own kuri.
During the event, family members, Kurikars (people who have registered for Kuri), relatives, and the division's administrative officials congregate to perform the pooja. The worship involves offering bananas to the deity, accompanied by a series of traditional rituals. At the conclusion, attendees are served prasadam (banana) and a meal. The Jati Kuri Pooja holds not only religious but also significant social value, fostering community connections. Typically, a household waits about 12-15 years for their turn to host the pooja again. This ceremony is revered for its auspicious and respected religious importance.