Nalpatham Velli means the fortieth Friday. It is actually the fortieth Day in the Holy Season of Lent from the Danaha Thirunnal (Pethratha) according to the Eastern Christians in Kerala, that falls on a Friday. If calculated Friday-wise from the Ash Monday (Kurisuvara Thirunnal), it is the sixth Friday in the Valiya Nombu!
Nalpatham Velly rituals (നാല്പതാം വെള്ളി ആചരണം) are marked in most Churches of the Syro-Malabar Sabha. Nalpatham Velli reminds the devotees who are on Fasting and Abstinence to intensify their spiritual and devotional activities for the Holy Week (പരിശുദ്ധ വാരം) that starts a couple of days after the 40th Friday. Usually, those faithful who failed to observe abstinence strictly until then (owing to various reasons) observe the last week of Lent (Holy Week) very strictly.
On the Fortieth Friday, most Churches conduct the Way of the Cross in a Solemn manner to the nearby pilgrim mounts (Kurishumala). Devotees (even non-Christians) in large numbers even from far away places participate piously in this 'Kurisinte Vazhi' prayer undertaking many penitential activities voluntarily for the atonement and forgiveness of one's sins. Kanji is served to all after the Nalpatham Velly Prayers.
The Saturday that falls after Nalpatham Velli (before Palm Sunday/Hosanna Njayar) is known as Kozhukkattta Shani. In most Christian families they make കൊഴുക്കട്ട, a round-shaped pastry with rice flour that looks like stones! There are two beliefs associated with the Kozhukkatta snack.
Some people say that when the Lord Jesus Christ went to bring back to life again the dead Lazarus in Bethani, before a few days of His Passion and death, his sisters prepared some eatables similar to Kozhukkatta to serve the Lord! Some others think that these kozhukkattas are to mark the stones that were taken to throw on the Lord by the Jews!
This year's (2022) Nalpatham Velli (40th Day / sixth Friday) in the holy Lent falls on April 8th.
