CHITOOR KONGANPADA

Konganpada, the only war festival celebrated in Kerala, is held at Chittur Bhagavathy temple near Palakad. The temple is about 11kms away from Palakad town. Chittur Konganpada combines religion with mythology and history. The festival is held on the first Monday after the full moon of Malayalam month Kumbham (February or March). The main deity of the temple is Bhadrakali who is believed to be the sister of Kodungallor Bhagavathi. The idol of the Bhagavathi in the temple is about 10 feet tall. The temple is opened only on Tuesday and Friday of a week. It also opens on special days like Navaratri (9 days), 41 days during Mandalam and 31 days of Karkidakam month.

The festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Nairs at Chittur over the military of nearby Konganadu during 918 A.D. It is said that there was constant fights between the Kerala kingdoms on the western side and the princely state of Konganadu on the eastern side of Western Ghats. The people of Chittur believe that Goddess Bhagavathy saved them from the attack of Chola King Rajadhi Raja.

The festival celebration commences with ‘chilambu’ which recalls the war declaration of Konganpada. It is followed by flag hosting ceremony next morning to show their willingness for the war. Another ritual performed during Konganpada is rolling a bell and making predictions according to the place where the bell stops. By the evening of the first day people gather near the temple. After three pop gun shots they march as a procession to a place called ‘Aripathattu’, which is the battle ground. The procession is guided by oracle of the temple (velichapadu). At night they return from the battleground and the procession resumes on the next day from Vettakorumakan kavu. In that procession small boys will dress like girls called kumaatti and participate in the festival. It will encircle the temple and a messenger from Konganpada reads a scroll declaring the war. At night the symbolic war begins and men engage in mock fights wearing buffalo masks to symbolize dead buffaloes of Konganpada. 

On the third day 101 rounds of kathina vedi (iron pipe crackers) commemorates the historic victory. The festival comes to an end with a hour long percussion.

Chittur is easily accessible from almost all parts of Kerala. Nearest railway station is Palakad railway station which is nearly 11kms away from Chittur. Coimbatore airport in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu is just 55km from Palakad. Cochin International airport is at a distance of about 135km.

Theyyam- A ritual artform in Kerala

Theyyam is a popular ritual art of Northern Kerala usually performed in temples as a part of daily rituals and festivals. The word ‘Theyyam’ is merely a corruption of Daivam. It is carried out in the districts of Kannur and Kasargod mainly during the festival season i.e. November to May.  It is one of the oldest and famous religious dance forms glorifying the God. It embraces almost all classed and castes of the Hindu religion. The performers of Theyyam are usually from low class of Hindu Community. This ritualistic art form is unique because of its participation from upper class Brahmins and lower class tribals. 

According to epics the land of Kerala was made by Lord Parasurama and he sanctioned festivals like Kaliyattom, Puravela and Theyyattom to the people of North India. He also assigned the responsibility of performing Theyyam dance to indigenous tribal communities like Malayar, Panan, Vanan and Velan. Bhagavathi, the mother Goddess and the united form of three principle forms, Brahmani (Saraswathi), Vaishnavi (Lakshmi) and Shivani (Durga), has an important place in Theyyam. The practices like spirit worship, ancestor worship, hero worship, masathi worship, serpent worship, animal worship, tree worship, worship of Goddess of disease and worship of Gramadevatha are included in the main stream of Theyyam.

The Theyyam is performed in open theatre along with drummers reciting a particular ritual song. The first part of performance is known as Vellattam or Thottam. The ritual song describes the legends and myths of the divine shrine or deity. In the second part the performer comes with proper make up and costumes. Folk music instruments such as chenda, tuti, kuzhal and veekni are used. The theyyam dance has different steps called Kalaasams. Each Kalaasam is repeated from first to eighth step of footwork.

The festival of Theyyam extends from 3-11 days during the month of November to February. Perumthita Tharavad is such a festival celebrated at Kottamkuzhy of Kasargod district. Large number of tourists and devotees gather there at this time. Grand performances of different variety of Theyyam like Chamundi theyyam, panchoorla theyyam, elayoor theyyam, Muthoor theyyam etc are performed here. Kanathoor nalvar bhoothasthanam is another extremely popular Theyyam festival in Kerala. Theyyam is performed on all days at Parassinikadavu Sree Muthapan temple, Kannur.