Palakkad

Traditions of Palakkad

In the months of March and April, after the harvests, festivals called Vela are celebrated in many villages. These festivals consist of parade of caparisoned elephants, traditional orchestra of percussion instruments (called Panchavadyam, Thayambaka, Pandimelam etc) and fireworks. These festivals are very popular; people from neighbouring districts and Tamil Nadu come to witness them. Nemmara Vallangi Vela and Chinakkathur Pooram are the prominent among them. The vela season comes to an end with Mangalam vela, which usually happens in the month of May.

Related Topics:
Panchavadyam - Thayambaka - Pandimelam - Nemmara - Vallangi

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Another important festival is the Kalpathi Ratholsavam. This is festival of the Tamil Brahmins. The deities of the various temples are taken out on a procession in chariots. It is believed that the God goes out to see his people on these days.

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The Anjumoorthy temple at Anjumoorthy Managalam, a village in Palakkad, is a unique temple in the district. The temple is considered to be the only temple in India where Sudharshana Chakram, a sharp spinning wheel carried by Lord Vishnu, is the primary deity. The belief is that Sudarshana Chakram self-manifested (Swayambhu) in the area where the temple now stands.

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The Navrathri Festival celebrated annually in Kodunthirapully Village is also very famous. This village has the unique distinction of being two theoretical parts that celebrate the same festival on Ashtami and Navami, often with a lot of competetive edge. The festival although celebrated for every one of the night days culminates on Ashtami and Navami with caprisoned elephants, panchavadyam, a fireworks finale and musical stage shows.

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