Venue : Palli Bhagavathy Temple, Neelamperoor, Kottayam.

Introduction :

The festivals of the temple are two in number- the ten day festival in the solar month meenam with its ninth day falling on pooram and the pooram padayani which starts from the day next to Thiruvonam in Chingam (the first solar month of the Keralite calendar) and lasts till Pooram, the birth day of the deity.

The festival Pooram Padayani of this temple is a rare and unparallelled phenomenon because it represents a synthesis of the Buddhist and Hindu cultures. It is strikingly similar to the Buddhist festival seen by Fahiyan, the Chinese traveler in Padaliputra (Patna in Bihar). It also resembles the ceremonies held in Sreemoolavarom which was once a budhist centre in Kerala. The Pooram Padayani is characterised by the display of exquisitely decorated effigies, "Kettukazcha", of Swans, Bhima, Ravana, Yakshi, Elephant etc. These are offerings in gratitude by devotees for the fulfillment of their desires. Making of these effigies need consummate craftsmanship. About one lac rupees is needed for the construction of Big Swan. The cost of conducting a padayni is shooting up year by year and the organisers are facing huge problems in mobilising the required funds. Donations made by the local people and various organisations are the main source of receipts for meeting the expenditure.

Getting there :

Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 16 kms.

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 kms from Kottayam.