Kadammanitta Padayani 2023 Festival: Kerala's Incredible Festival

Kadammanitta Padayani Festival 2023
When is Kadammanitta Padayani 2023 Festival in Kerala?

This week-long festival in Kerala is organized when the sun is believed to come in the constellation of Aries, according to the Malayalam calendar, on the first day of the month of Medam. During the festive season, Kerala hosts a variety of events that highlight the state's rich culture and traditions. This year Kadammanitta Padayani will be celebrated from April 15 to April 23 in Kerala.
What is Kadammanitta Padayani 2023 Festival in Kerala?

Kadammanitta Padayani, an exuberantly celebrated annual temple festival, draws devotees and tourists from India and abroad, who are particularly enthralled by kolam, the festival's theatrical procession, as well as other celebratory rituals. Every year Kadammanitta Padayani 2023 Festival’s main attractions are Kanijramala Kolam and Oorali Padayani.
What is the meaning of Padayani? or What is Padayani?

Padayani is a ritual theatre art form associated with Kerala's Goddess temples in the Central Travancore area. The Padayani rituals, which are performed at night on the temple grounds, are a symbolic act to appease the Goddess Bhadrakali, whose fury continues unabated regardless of her victory over the mythical demon Darikan. The Padayani festivals may last from seven to 28 days, depending on the number of villages that participate and organize them.

Padayani is a combination of the Malayalam words Pada and ani, which mean a group of soldiers and rows, respectively. Padayani, which means 'row of warriors,' is thought to have been performed by warriors trained in Kalaripayattu to frighten their enemies from the southern part of Travancore. As a result, this art form can be traced back to the rich martial art tradition of Kalaripayattu.

It is also a celebration of a good crop that the villagers believe is impossible without the blessings of Gods and Goddesses. Padayani is the spirit and style of an epic theatre. It also refers to a purification ritual performed by the villagers in their devotion to ward off evil forces, which the villagers believe was impossible without the blessings of Gods and Goddesses. Padayani has the spirit and style of an epic theatre. It also refers to a purification ritual performed by the villagers in their devotion to ward off evil forces.
Kadammanitta Padayani 2023 Festival Progrms:

Kadammanitta Padayani Festival is Kerala’s one of the most incredible festival. The annual Pathamudaya Mahotsavom includes a 10-day Padayani festival at Kadammanitta Bhagavathy Temple.
  • Padayani at Kadammanitta starts with chootu vaipu, or fire lighting. The fire for the ceremony comes from the holy lamp inside the temple, and it gets accompanied by the drumming of thappu and chenda.
  • The next day, devotees may attend the eduthu varavu ritual or the procession of various Padayani Kolams. It all begins with Ganapathi's kolam. Marutha, Kalan, Kuthira, Madan, Pakshi, Yakshi, and Bhairavi are the other kolams in the procession. Paradeshi is Kadammanitta Padayani's main amusing interlude.
  • The Valiya Padayani starts on the eighth day by conducting a kolam procession from the village square.
  • The main attraction on the big day is the giant Bhairavi kolams made of areca spathes and intricately cut palm leaves that looked like life-size images of Goddess Bhadrakali's Bhoothaganas (armies) illuminated by dry coconut leaf torches (choottukatta).
  • The main attraction of Valiya Padayani day is the grandiose 'Bhairavi Kolam' performance. Kolams danced to the padayani songs. The day also includes the Koottakkolam (all kolams) performance, which includes a Ganapathi kolam, four Marutha kolams, one Kalan kolam, eight Yakshi kolams, Kanjiramala kolams, and Bharavi kolams.
  • The Valiya Padayani finishes with the artistes and devotees singing Vallappattu (boat songs) to seek the blessings of the Lord.
  • The padayani festival in Kadammanitta concludes with the Pakal Padayani on the following day, followed by the Kalamezhuthu pattu in the evening.'
What are the Rituals of Padayani?

Padayani is typically performed during the Malayalam months of Makaram, Kumbham, Meenam, Medam, and Edavam, which correspond roughly to January, February, March, April, and May. Along with the Padayani dance, a number of religious rituals and rites must be performed. These rituals may differ slightly from temple to temple, but only in minor details.

Here are the rituals performed in Padayani festivals -
  • Choottuvaippu
  • Edathu Varavu and Ezhuthi Thullal
  • Thavadi
  • Pulavritham and Thappu Melam
  • Vinodam
  • Adavi
  • Pooppada
  • Valiya Padayani
Types of Padayani Kolam
What are the Padayani Kolams?

One of the most exciting features of the Padayani festival is the Kolam Thullal (effigy dance). The frenzied dance of kolams in Padayani's arena is a highly theatrical performance.
 
  • These kolams are typically prepared near temples using green arecanut spathes and Kuruthola, tender coconut leaves.
  • The green portion of the spathes is cut into various sizes and shapes to form the face and headgear of various forms of the Kolams.
  • These pieces were then embellished with natural colors like red, yellow, and black. Red paint is obtained by grinding red stones; black paint is obtained by grinding burnt coconut shells (chiratta); and yellow paint is obtained by grinding turmeric (manjal).
  • Polishing the green spathe yields the white color. To keep the spathe fresh, all kolams are made just before the performance.
  • The largest, representing Goddess Bhadrakali, is made of 1001 spathe pieces. During the festival season, the entire village participates in the creation of these kolams, which represent unity in diversity.
Here are some of the Kolam that are prepared during the Padayani Festival:
  • Bhairavi Kolam
  • Ganapathy Kolam
  • Marutha Kolam
  • Kaalan Kolam
  • Pakshi Kolam
  • Yakshi Kolam
  • Manushya Kolams
Musical Instruments Used in Padayani Festival:

Music is the essence of all art forms, including Padayani's ritual art form. The rhythmic steps of Kolam are intertwined with vocal and instrumental music. Thappu and Chenda play the soul of Padayani's performance.

Thappu, a traditional drum, is one of the small-sized drums used in Kerala. Its plain surface is made of animal skin, which is heated and cooled by rubbing the leaves of a specific plant before being tuned to achieve the desired tone. The striking surface's skin is glued to a circular wooden frame 10-12 inches in diameter. Thappu, unlike other Kerala percussion instruments, lacks strings for tone correction. Thappu is played with both hands and palms and is usually accompanied by traditional cymbals known as ilathalam.

Other instruments commonly used in performances include the para, kumbham, ilathalam, kuzhal, and kombu.
How to Reach Kadammanitta Bhagavathy Temple:

 By Rail: The nearest railway station to Kadammanitta is Chengannur and Thiruvalla railway stations which are about 22 km and 28 km far respectively.

 By Air: The nearest airport to Kadammanitta is Trivandrum International Airport which is about 116 km far.

 By Road: Kadammanitta is situated near NH 183 so it is well connected by the Road. If you are planning to attend Kadammanitta Padayani 2023 Festival in April then you can take a bus or car to reach there.
Various Padayani Festivals of Kerala:

Here are some other Padayani festivals which are celebrated at various places in Kerala:

1. Elanthoor Padayani: Each year Padayani festival at Sree Bhagavathikunnu Devi Temple in Elanthoor is celebrated in the Malayalam month Kumbham.

2. Kallisseri Padayani: Each year padayani festival, known as Kallisseri Padayani, lasts for eight days, beginning with the Uthradam asterism and ending with the Aswathy asterism in the Malayalam month Kumbham.

3. Neelamperoor Padayani: The Pooram Padayani festival, also known as Neelamperoor Padayani, is celebrated in the Malayalam month Chingam on the Pooram asterism.

4. Kottangal Padayani: The Padayani celebration of Kottangal is also known as Ettupadayani, the final eight days of the festival, which begins on the Bharani asterism in the Malayalam month Dhanu. The festival concludes on Bharani asterism in the Malayalam month Makaram.

5. Othera Padayani: Othera Puthukulangara Devi Temple's Padayani festival starts with the Chathayam asterisk in the Malayalam month Meenam and concludes on the Thiruvathira asterisk in the Malayalam month Meenam.

6. Kadalimangalam Padayani: Each year Padayani festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month Meenam at the Kadalimangalam Devi Temple in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta.

7. Ezhumattoor Padayani: Every year on the first of the Malayalam month Medam, the Sree Panamattukavu Devi Temple in Ezhumattoor celebrates Vishu Padayani.

8. Thacharickal Padayani: Every year the padayani ritual starts off at the Alpara Thacharickal Bhagavathy Temple in the Kottayam district with Pururuttathi asterism in the Malayalam month Meenam and concludes with Valiya Padayani on Rohini asterism.

Source of Content and Images: Kerala Tourism
 


Kadammanitta Padayani 2023 Festival   Keralas Incredible Festival   Padayani festival   How to Reach Kadammanitta Bhagavathy Temple   Padayani Festival Musical Instruments   Types of Padayani Kolams   Padayani Kolams   Rituals of Padayani  


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