The Neelemperoor Padayani Festival is held on the premises of the revered Temple of Goddess Bhagavathy, located near Neeleperoor, a small town near KottayamIt is one of the most famous festivals in Kerala that represent the exquisite fusion of Mythology and Culture. During this festival, you can feel an enchanting aura and mystique surrounding that will blow your mind. Many kinds of rituals are performed during this festival in Kerala that makes the surrounding beautiful. However, making different effigies of human and non-human figures is one of the most prominent parts of the Neelemperoor Padayani Festival.
Description of Neelemperoor Padayani
The main aspect of the festival of Neelemperoor Padayani is the aspect of devotion to God and is a mark of homage paid to Goddess Bhagavathy. She is symbolized as a Mother Goddess. The festival, which demonstrates the devotees’ belief in the all-powerful Mother Goddess or Goddess Bhagavathy, is one of the most critical events in the Malayalam calendar. The various festivals of Kerala exhibit this culture, notable amongst which is the Neelemperoor Padayani.
How Neelemperoor Padayani is Celebrated
The festival, commemorating woman power, is symbolized by the presence of decorated motifs of swans offered to the Goddess. These swans are then carried in a procession, a riot of colors and motifs. Thousands of swans, ranging in all sizes, mark the occasion, also known for the varied use of natural colors, which are generally extracted from the village’s flowers, leaves, and petals. The procession, conducted at night, reverberates with the sounds of trumpets, drums, and holy chanting, while on its way to the temple. The sounds of Chenda, or traditional drums and cymbals, are especially pronounced in the procession of devotees on their way to the temple.
Time for celebrating the Neelemperoor Padayani
One of the famous festivals in Kerala, the Neelemperoor Padayani, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Medam according to the Malayalam calendar(usually around August /September) or when the sun is in the constellation of Aries according to western calendars. The ceremony, an elaborate display of skills, dècor, traditions, and color, is a fun-filled event that takes place for ten days.
How to Reach
This festival of Kerala is celebrated in the Palli Bhagavathi Temple, located in the Alappuzha district. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is around 101 km from the temple. You can also reach it by train as the nearest railway station is Changanassery Railway station, located approximately 10 km from this temple.
