Pariyanampetta Pooram is organized at the temple of Pariyanampetta Bhagavathy, in Kattukulam of the district of Palakkad in the South Indian state of Kerala. This district of Palakkad is also sometimes called as ‘God’s own country’. It is a seven-day festival celebrated every year with loads of art as well as entertainment. People of Kerala consider it as a multi-hued event held at the temple of Pariyanampetta, whose presiding deity is mother Goddess or Bhagavathi, the Goddess of 14 Desams. It is one of the biggest temples of Devi of ValluvanadDesam in the Palghat district in the Kerala state.

History

This Pooram festival is marked by various beautiful traditional folk as well as classical musical performances. It may include Tholpavakoothu, Pootham, Kalamezhuthupattu, Thira, Kaalavela, Karivela, Kuthiravela, Chakyarkoothu and Kathakali etc. As per history, the SakthanThampuran, who was the ruler of Kochi, had introduced PariyanampettaPooram. He introduced this major festival of this area during his reign in 1775- 1790 AD.

Description

The temple along withits limits have a resemblance to that of temple of MookambikaKollurthe whose presiding deity is Bhagavathi or Mother Goddess.Thepooram festival is being celebrated in the month of Kumbam as per the Malayalam calendar.

Tourist Essential

This festival is full of art and show biz so it becomes quite fascinating for the tourists visiting here. What catches most the fancy of tourists is KalamezhuthuPattu. Tourists can get to see the art available for them throughout the seven days of the festival. The combination of these images along with the ritual songs makes them more beautiful for the thousands of devotees who gather here to witness this spectacular view.

During the times of festival, one can also get to see amazing presentations of art forms such as Chakiyarkoothu and Kathakali which exhibit the enriched cultural heritage of the state of Kerala. There are performances such as Shadow puppetry, which is another folk art referred to as Tholpavakoothu. It is performed at night creating an amazing ambiance among the people.

The last day of this festival is followed by a ceremonial procession in which nearly 21 elephants participate. To add to the entertainment, there are various folk arts being exhibited here such as Kaalavela, Kuthiravela and PoothanumThirayumetc which help in transforming the procession on the concluding day and make it more interesting.

The 21 elephants which have been grandly caparisoned are trained to parade all through the streets and millions of people come to enjoy this spectacular view as well as seek blessings from these elephants as they are regarded as holy by the people of Kerala.

The musical performances accompanied by these festooned elephants put up a traditional presentation and are the significant parts of the festival of PariyanampettaPooram. The people of Kerala consider music as an integral part of almost every festival being celebrated there. There are music performances taking place before the deity in order to please them. The Folk arts such as Kaalavela also called as spectacle of bull effigy and Kuthiravela called as the spectacle of horse effigy make the final day of the festival to a highly fascinating and diverting one.

Getting There

Nearest railway station: Palakkad, about 45 km away.

Nearest airport: Coimbatore in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, about 55 km from Palakkad.