Home to the famed backwaters of Kerala, the beauty of “God’s Own Country” never ceases to mesmerize the tourists to her lands. Added to the rich tropical beauty of the land is the rich heritage and culture of the land, which provide an added attraction to the tourists on a trip of travel to Kerala. A land where tradition and heritage are still preserved in each and every heart of the people of the land, a tour to Kerala is made even more fascinating by a glimpse of the various ritual, customs and festivals of the land. The various festivals of Kerala are influenced to a large extent by the culture of Kerala and are kept alive even today by the various legends and myths associated with them. These are led by the festivals which are a form of commemoration of a special event which had taken place sometime during the history of Kerala. These include some of the most famous festivals in Kerala like the Kadammanitta Padayani.

One of the famous festivals in Kerala, the Kadammanitta Padayani is celebrated on the first day of the month of Medam according to the Malayalam calendar or when the sun is in the constellation of Aries according to western calendars. The ceremony, which is an elaborate display of skills, décor, traditions and color, is a fun filled event which takes place for ten days.

The main aspect of the festival of Kadammanitta Padayani is the aspect of devotion to God and is a mark of homage paid to Goddess Bhagavathy, who is symbolized as a Mother Goddess. The festival which is marked by worship of the all powerful Mother Goddess is an exhibition of passionate devotion to the Goddess who is worshipped as a Mother figure throughout the province of Kerala. A festival which is celebrated for ten days throughout this tropical paradise is a massive display of color and the elegance which stems naturally from a culture dating back to several years in antiquity. The festival is also marked by the performance of the Patayani, a popular dance form which is an intrinsic part of the celebrations of Kadammanitta Padayani. Traditionally performed on the eight day of the festival, the Patayani indicates an offering to Goddess Kali, in whose honor, the festival is celebrated. The festival is also auspicious as it marks the victory of Kali over Daariken, an evil character and the renewal of protection of the Goddess on human beings. The main center of this festival is the Pathanamthitta Town.