The Valiya Padayani that marked the grand finale of the annual Padayani festival at the ancient Bhagavathy temple at Kadammanitta came to a close with the customary ‘Pooppada’ and ‘Karavanchiyirakkal’ on Friday morning.
Villagers believe that the presiding deity, Goddess Bhadrakali, is overwhelmingly pleased at the very sight of the performance of the majestic Bhairavi kolams, leaving the small temple hamlet of Kadammanitta in a divine bliss.
The Valiya Padayani began with the ceremonial procession of kolams from the village square on Thursday evening. The giant Bhairavi kolams made of areca spathes and intricately cut palm fronds looked like life-size images of the Bhoothaganas (cohorts) of Goddess Bhadrakali in the light of indigenous torches made of dry coconut palm leaves (‘choottukatta’).
Performance of different types of kolams began with the Ganapathi kolam in the wee hours of Friday.
Padayani-lovers greeted the Bhairavi kolams with a big ‘hurray’ and the Valiya Padayani came to a close by 5.30 am.
The customary ‘Poppada’, followed by ‘Karavanchiyirakkal’, in which the devotees arrange themselves in the shape of a snake boat on the temple premises, marked the culmination of the event at day-break.
The annual festival at Kadammanitta will come to a close with the Pakal Padayani to be held on Saturday forenoon.
