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.
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