Kadammanitta Patayani

Kadammanitta Padayani is a lively 10-day festival held every year in the months of April - May at the Kadammanitta Bhagavathy Temple in the tiny village of Kadammanitta in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The festival is dedicated to local Goddess Bhadrakali and begins with the lighting of a holy lamp inside the temple in a ritual called Chootu Vaipu. Traditional music from percussion instruments such as thappu and chendas follows the ceremony. In the remaining 9 days of Kadammanitta Padayani, several processions of Padayani Kolams take place. Artists, wearing huge masks crafted beautifully from areca nut fronds, represent mythological characters and dance on local Padayani songs. Kolams dedicated to Ganapathi, Marutha, Pakshi, Yakshi, and Bhairavi take part in the event. One of the major highlights of Kadammanitta Padayani is the ceremony of Valiya Padayani which is celebrated on the 7th day of the festival. A giant procession of all kolams begins from the village square while the majestic Bhairavi Kolam becomes the center of attraction. Artists don giant Bhairavi Kolams and look like the Bhootagana armies of Goddess Bhadrakali. As they dance to the tunes of traditional Padayani songs by the light of local torches made of dry coconut leaves, the atmosphere changes to one of euphoria and trance. On the day of Valiya Padayani, visitors can also experience the Koottakkolam performance which is a group performance by several kolams including one Ganapathi kolam, one Kalam kolam, four Marutha kolams, eight Yakshi kolams, and the majestic Bhairavi kolam.