Padayani Festivals

Kadalimangalam Padayani


Date:04-04-2022 to 04-04-2022

Kadalimangalam Devi Temple, located at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta, celebrates the annual Padayani festival in the Malayalam month of Meenam (March-April). The rituals of Padayani begin with “Choottu Vaipu” on Makam asterisk and continue till Bharani asterisk of the same month. The Padayani at Kadalimangalam is a festive occasion for the people of two Karas (region) – Eruvellipra-Thengeli and Venpala.

For Choottu Vaipu ritual the sacred light is brought from Sreevallabha Temple at Thiruvalla which is followed by chootu Padayani of two Kara performs on alternate days and continues for next days.

The Padayani kolam performance begins from 2nd day onwards with the `Ezhuthi-thullal’ with the Pancha Kolams of Pishachu, Yakshi, Pakshi, Marutha, and Madan.

The Cheriya Edappadayani is celebrated on the following days with the performance of Kolams like Bhairavi, Kalam, Anthara Yakshi and Sundara Yakshi. Pulavritham performance too begins on Cheriya Edappadaani day and it is followed by Thappu Melam, Thavadi, and Paradeshi performances.

On Valiya Edappadayani day performances of Arakiya Yakshi, Maya Yakshi, Kootta Marutha Kolams takes place. The most attractive one of all the kolams on the Valiya Padayani day is that of Bhairavi kolam made of 101 areca spathes (101 Pala Bhairavi Kolam). 

On the day of Adavi, the main attraction is that people bring branches of trees and leaves in their hands to the front of the temple as a symbolic representation of the forest. After the usual kolam performance, around 2.00 am the rituals of Pallippana begin. Coconut is broken in the centre of the temple and in the background, you can hear the drumming of Para. After breaking twelve coconuts, Chural Adavi takes place as a symbolic representation of human sacrifice in yesteryears.

The final ritual of Kadalimangalam Padayani is the Nirthu Padayani.  All the Kolams come dancing to the ground and are followed by the performance of Gandharva Kolam and ritual of Poppada. 

The next day morning the temple witnesses the special performance of Kaala Yakshi. The Kaala Yakshi comes to the ground with dancing steps. She throws the burning embers up into the sky. Finally, the Kolam takes the fire embers in its hand and screams before falling into unconsciousness. The Kolam is then removed from the body. With the dance of Kaala Yakshi the Padayani rituals come to an end.

The Padayani Festival brings to a close with the `Koodi-thullal’ on the Meena-Bharani day by the people of two regions.

Venue

Kadalimangalam Devi Temple

Address

Venpala
Thiruvalla - 689102

District

Pathanamthitta

Festival Date

Malayalam month of Meenam (March-April).

Getting there

The temple can be reached from Thiruvalla via NH183 and is about 3 kms. Thiruvalla Railway Station is the nearest, about 5 km


Location

Venpala

Disclaimer

In Kerala, festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs. We have calculated the festival dates based on these. But there can be changes in the dates according to the customs and rituals associated with each place of worship. As such, these should be considered only as approximate dates and have to be confirmed with the local authorities.