Home > Kerala Festivals > Neelamperoor Pooram Patayani
Neelamperoor Pooram Patayani
Venue: Palli Bhagavathy Temple, Neelamperoor, Kottayam.
Neelemperoor Pooram Padayani is held at the precincts of the beautiful temple of Goddess Bhagavathy at Neelemperoor near Kottayam. Padayani is a symbolic victory march of Goddess Kaali after vanquishing Darika. Padayani is a festival celebrated in the central travancore region of Kerala. This festival is the remaenance of adi dravida culture. Generally Padayani is a form of folk dance with some strict ritual proceedings. Men wearing the mask of folk and epic figures like Bhairavi, Yakshi, Marutha, Ganapathi etc dance in tune with folk songs and drum beats.Men with mask are known as Kolam and the dance is known as Kolam thullal. But Neelamperoor padayani is different from other Padayani's in its overall perception. In neelamperoor padayani effigies of swans (annam), lion, elephant and epic figures are exhibited in the festival. Padayani is a 16 day festival which starts on Avittom star, the very next day of Thiruvonam, the national festival of Kerala and ends on the Pooram day. The 16 day padayani is divided into 4 phases. On the first four days 'Choottu padayani' will take place. The villagers who gathered at the temple ground at night with loud noise and pooh- pooh calls burn dried coconut tree leaves in the first phase. On the 4th day pacha(green), the leaf of palm tree is exhibited in the padayani. This marks the begining of second phase and from the fifth day onwards different kolams(effigies) will be exhibited in padayani nights day by day. On the 8th day pacha the second phase ends and on that day' Kudanirthu' the procession of effigies from the 5th day to 8th day will take place.From 9th day to 12th day Plavila kolams (effigies made of jack fruit tree leaves) are exhibited in Padayani. On the 12th day, the end day of third phase 'Plavila nirthu' the procession of Plavila kolams will take place. In the fourth and final phase effigies made of pindi(plantain stem) and kuruthola(tender leaves of coconut tree) are exhibited.
The main attraction of Neelamperoor padayani is the procession of big swans. This may be the largest effigies made of natural materials like lotus leaves,ixora flowers etc. The procession of swans will take place on the 16th day, Pooram valiya padayani. Only natural materials are used in the construction of Kolams and swans. Historians describe Neelamperoor padayani as a mix of Dravida, Budha and Hindu culture. The use of natural materials for making effigies and diversity in rituals makes Neelamperoor padayani a unique experience. The procession is conducted at night and in its course towards the temple;it is accompanied by the reverberating beats emanating from several traditional drums (Chenda) along with clanging of Cymbals that fills the air with a captivating rhythm. The rustic charm of this festival creates an immemorable feeling to the viewers.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 16 kms.
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 kms from Kottayam.
|
