Neelamperoor Padayani 2023 Date, Rituals & Celebrations
On the day of Pooram in the Malayalam month of Chingam, the magnificent Padayani Festival is observed. The majority of celebrations occur in the state of Kerala. The Palli Bhagavathy temple in the picturesque village of Neelamperoor in Alappuzha has been exquisitely embellished for the festivities.
As Neelamperoor Pooram Patayani is celebrated during the month of Onam, it magnifies the splendor of the festivities exponentially. The festival is extremely popular with the locals.
Although the Patayani festival is celebrated throughout Kerala, the festivities in Neelamperoor are significantly more elaborate and unique than in other regions. The grand procession carrying effigies of mythological characters is what makes the festival in Neelamperoor unique. The artists of the state create these effigies months before the festival at the local level.
Neelamperoor Padayani Date 2023
Thursday, 14 September 2023
Neelamperoor Padayani Festival Celebrations
The Neelamperoor Padayani Festival is one of Kerala’s most extraordinary celebrations. At Neelamperoor Temple, the annual Pathamudaya Mahotsavom incorporates a 10-day Padayani festival.
- Padayani at Neelamperoor begins with fire igniting, or chootu vaipu. The fire for the ceremony originates from the sacred lamp within the temple, and it is accompanied by the thappu and chenda drumming.
- The following day, devotees may participate in the eduthu varavu ceremony or the procession of numerous Padayani Kolams.
- Everything starts with Ganapathi’s kolam. The procession also includes kolams with the names Marutha, Kalan, Kuthira, Madan, Pakshi, Yakshi, and Bhairavi. Paradeshi is Kadammanitta Padayani’s primary amusing interlude.
- On the eighth day, the Valiya Padayani begins with a kolam procession from the village square.
- The main attraction on the big day is the enormous Bhairavi kolams made of areca spathes and intricately cut palm leaves, which resembled life-size images of Goddess Bhadrakali’s Bhoothganas (armies) and were illuminated by dried coconut leaf torches (choottukatta).
- The highlight of Valiya Padayani is the opulent “Bhairavi Kolam” performance. Kolams performed dances to padayani music. Koottakkolam (all kolams) performance comprises Ganapathi kolam, four Marutha kolams, one Kalan kolam, eight Yakshi kolams, Kanjiramala kolams, and Bharavi kolams.
- Artists and devotees sing Vallappattu (boat songs) to beseech the Lord’s blessings as the Valiya Padayani concludes.
- The padayani festival in Neelamperoor concludes the following day with the Pakal Padayani and the evening Kalamezhuthu pattu.
Rituals Performed on Padayani Festival
Typically, Padayani is undertaken in the Malayalam months of Makaram, Kumbham, Meenam, Medam, and Edavam, which roughly correspond to January, February, March, April, and May. In addition to the Padayani performance, several religious rites and rituals must be performed. These rituals may vary marginally from temple to temple, but only in insignificant ways.
- Choottuvaippu
- Edathu Varavu and
- Ezhuthi Thullal
- Thavadi
- Pulavritham and
- Thappu Melam
- Vinodam
- Adavi
- Pooppada
- Valiya Padayani
Padayani Festival Month and Place
The Neelamperoor Pooram Padayani festival is held annually around the Onam festival in the month of September. It takes place at the Palli Bhagavathy Temple in Neelamperoor (Alappuzha district), 16 kilometres outside of Kottayam.
Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 16 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 km away