Pudiyankam, an exquisite village of Palakkad District, has attained a name for itself due to it's annual rituals and celebrations in the famous temples of Sri Puthukkulangara Bagavathi and Sri Vettakkaruman. These centuries year old temples in the village, though renovated time and again, are said to be the main source of good fortune and well being of the villagers. Anybody, who worships at these temples sincerely, will succeed in his life and lead a happy and prosperous life.
The main annual festival at these temples is the Vela celebrations. Even though the celebrations pertain to Puthukkulagara Bagavathy, some of the main rituals are being conducted at the Vettakkaruman temple, hence making the Lord also to be a part of the celebrations. The Vela is being conducted every year on the day of Hastham Star of the Malayalam Month Meenam, said to be the Devi's Janma Nakshatram. The Devi Temple was once the property of the Kavalappara Nair, which has been taken over by the villagers of Pudiyankam and Kattusseri and is now managed by a committee comprising members from both Desams. Both Desams celebrate the festival on the same day.
At Pudiyankam, the activities start right from early morning with Mahaganapathy Homam at Sri. Vettakkaruman Temple followed by Kalasa Pooja and Abhishekams for the deity. The Eadu Vedi at Aalthara Mannu [ vedi vazhipadu with 101 vedies] marks the commencement of the celebrations. Before the beginning, a formality called the Koottazhi ezhuthu will be performed at the same venue on the day of Hastham Star in the month of Kumbham. It is now that the villagers meet here to discuss formally about the arrangements to be made for the Festival celebrations.
Two days celebrations of Kanniyar, starting on the Thiruvathira Star Day immediately preceding the festival, when the Devi is taken in a procession from the temple near Alathur to Pudiyankam during night and will be received at the Village boundary by the elders of the village and special Poojas will be performed under a Kodimaram [ A bamboo Flag Mast ] and the presence of the Devi will be there all through the night and will be escorted back to the Temple in the morning.
On the day of celebrations, after the Eadu Vedi, the Devi from the Srimoolasthanam at Komathumannu is ceremoniously accompanied to Sri Vettakkaruman temple where the grand procession is scheduled to begin. The Kelikottu, the Kombu and Kuzhalpattu and the grand Panchavadhyam performance by renowned artists are the main events in the celebrations and the Devi's procession round the village with seven caparisoned elephants with the Panchavadhyam accompanying adds beauty to the celebrations.
The Kudamattam [ changing of umbrellas atop the elephants ] and the Chenda Melam [Pandi Melam ] and the Fire Works after the procession are treats to watch and enjoy. The important one to point out is the presence of a Chappalana [An elephant made with wood, bamboo, dry plantain leaves and hay, covered with black cloth which cxactly looks like a real elephant ]. It is said that, long long back, when there broke out a commotion in the area and temples were looted and destroyed, a section of the villagers from the area tried to save the deity from the looters. They packed the deity inside an elephant made out of wood, bamboo, hay and dried plantain leaves, which were the only materials available at that time, pulled the elephant away and brought it to the village Pudiyankam where it was safe and restored the deity back after all the commotions were over. The place, where the deity was kept all through this period, came to be known as the Srimoolasthanam, from where the procession of the Chappalana begins.
The celebrations, with physical and monetary help from the villagers, has become a grand one now a days with leading tuskers in Kerala as well as veterans in the art of Panchavadhyam and Chenda Melam parading themselves to prove their mettle. The Fire Works has turned out to be the cynosure of all eyes. To add to that, the co-operation being extended by all villagers irrespective of caste, creed and religion, has helped much in making the celebrations a grandeur one. As a custom, people belonging to each and every caste have their own specific part to play in this festival celebrations, which all of them are doing well without any huff and puff to see that the Vela Festival at Pudiyankam is celebrated in a manner envied by other neighbouring villages.
Two days celebrations of Kanniyar, starting on the Thiruvathira Star Day immediately preceding the festival, when the Devi is taken in a procession from the temple near Alathur to Pudiyankam during night and will be received at the Village boundary by the elders of the village and special Poojas will be performed under a Kodimaram [ A bamboo Flag Mast ] and the presence of the Devi will be there all through the night and will be escorted back to the Temple in the morning.
On the day of celebrations, after the Eadu Vedi, the Devi from the Srimoolasthanam at Komathumannu is ceremoniously accompanied to Sri Vettakkaruman temple where the grand procession is scheduled to begin. The Kelikottu, the Kombu and Kuzhalpattu and the grand Panchavadhyam performance by renowned artists are the main events in the celebrations and the Devi's procession round the village with seven caparisoned elephants with the Panchavadhyam accompanying adds beauty to the celebrations.
The Kudamattam [ changing of umbrellas atop the elephants ] and the Chenda Melam [Pandi Melam ] and the Fire Works after the procession are treats to watch and enjoy. The important one to point out is the presence of a Chappalana [An elephant made with wood, bamboo, dry plantain leaves and hay, covered with black cloth which cxactly looks like a real elephant ]. It is said that, long long back, when there broke out a commotion in the area and temples were looted and destroyed, a section of the villagers from the area tried to save the deity from the looters. They packed the deity inside an elephant made out of wood, bamboo, hay and dried plantain leaves, which were the only materials available at that time, pulled the elephant away and brought it to the village Pudiyankam where it was safe and restored the deity back after all the commotions were over. The place, where the deity was kept all through this period, came to be known as the Srimoolasthanam, from where the procession of the Chappalana begins.
The celebrations, with physical and monetary help from the villagers, has become a grand one now a days with leading tuskers in Kerala as well as veterans in the art of Panchavadhyam and Chenda Melam parading themselves to prove their mettle. The Fire Works has turned out to be the cynosure of all eyes. To add to that, the co-operation being extended by all villagers irrespective of caste, creed and religion, has helped much in making the celebrations a grandeur one. As a custom, people belonging to each and every caste have their own specific part to play in this festival celebrations, which all of them are doing well without any huff and puff to see that the Vela Festival at Pudiyankam is celebrated in a manner envied by other neighbouring villages.
