festivals
Chittoor Konganpada
Konganpada is a grand festival of historical importance, celebrated in the Bhagavathy temple at Chittoor, 10 Kms. from Palakkad town. It is held every year on the first Monday after the new moon night in Kumbhom (February-March), to commemorate the victory of Nair’s of Chittoor over the militia of Konganadu (Coimbatore) led by the Chola King, Rajadhi Raja.
The festival starts with ‘Chilambu’ on Sivarathi in Kumbhom which reminds Kongan’s (Chola Kings) declaration of war and the frightened people worshipping Bhagavathy and beseeching her help.
Konganpada Photo1 Photo2 Photo3
Jain festival
There is an ancient Jain temple at Jainamedu, near Palakkad town. According to a legend, one Sutar (head of the Jains) built this temple 500 years ago for the Jain sage, Chandranathaswamy. The Jains who came here from Mysore fled from this place during the invasion of Tippu Sultan.
Nellikulangara Vela
To invoke the blessings of Nellikulangra Bhagavathy, the people of Vellanghi and Nenmara conduct a festival on 20th Meenam (March-April) every year. This is the famous Vellanghi Vela. This beautiful temple is in the Vellanghi village of Chittur taluk. The flag hoisting ceremony in connection with the vela is held jointly by the residents of Vellanghi and Nenmara on ninth Meenam. On all days following the flag hoisting till the eve of the vela, Kummatti, Karivela, Andivela and similar other folk rituals are performed. These three ceremonies together are known as Kanyar. The pomp and splendour of the festival would put it in second place, perhaps only to the Pooram festival of Thrissur.
See year 2005 Vela Photographs
Ottappalam Nercha festival
Juma prayers are held in Ottappalam mosque on Fridays. To commemorate the death anniversary of a saintly person by name Uthman Auliya, an annual festival is held in January-February. The special feature of this festival is the grand procession which ceremoniously brings various things such as rice, coconuts etc. to the mosque as offerings. On the next days, a feast is held where the various articles received will be cooked and distributed to the poor.
Sivarathri festival at Kallekulangara Bhagavathy temple
This festival is conducted for nine days and ends with an arat of the deity Hemambika in Kalpathy river.
Kalpathy Radholsavam
Kalpathy Viswanadha swamy temple is the oldest Siva temple in Malabar. It was built in 1425 A.D. by H. Kombi Achan, the then Raja of Palakkad. Kalpathy is linked to Kasi because the main deity is Siva and the temple is on the banks of the Neela Nadi just as Kasi is on the banks of the Ganges. The other deities consecreted in the temple are Sri Visalakash Sametha Viswanadhaswamy, Vinayaka, Valli Devayani Sametha Subrahmanyaswamy, Gangadhara, Dakshinayana Murthy, Simhanasundari, Nataraja, Surya Bhavara, Kala Bhairavan, Chandikeswaran, Nandeeswaran and Pradesh Handi. The rituals in the temples were coducted earlier by Kerala Brahmins, the Nambuthiris. But now, Tamil Brahimins are in charge. The centre of attraction of the festival is Kalpathy Sri Viswanadha swamy temple. The festival is celebrated in the month of November. On the seventh day (28th day of Alpasi), the deity from Viswanadha swamy temple is taken out and installed in the chariot. There are three chariots in this temple; one for the main deity Shri Viswanadha swamy and Goddess Parvathy, the second for Visweswara and the third for Lord Subrahmanya.
Manappullikavu Vela
The important festival of Manappullikavu at Yakkara is the annual Vela.
Arat festival in Kachamkurichy Temple.
Kachamkurichy temple is an important Vishnu temple. The arat festival here in the month of May attracts many people.
Navarathri festival in Pallavur Siva Temple, Amavasi festival in Thrippalur Siva Temple, Pooram festival in Kongad Bhagavathy temple and Radhotsavam at Kodumbu Subrahmanya temple are some of the important festivals which attract a large number of devotees. Mahamakom is also held in the Kodumbu temple once in twelve years.
Content Courtesy: Department of Information & Public Relation