The otherwise sleepy hamlet of Kadammanitta, nestling in the hilly tracts of Pathanamthitta is to have the first Padayani Village in the State.
The proposed rural tourism project is a cultural centre for the promotion of the ritualistic dance form of Padayani.
Padayani, meaning military formations, is a ritualistic dance dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakaali performed as an offering by devotees to the deity at select Bhagavathy temples in Central Travancore region in March-April.
Kadammanitta village that houses the famous Bhagavathy Temple where padayani festival is an important annual event is a major centre of this temple art form.
The project estimated at a total cost of Rs. 1.9 crore will be implemented by a co-ordination committee. The Kadammanittta Bhagavathy Temple Devaswom Committee president, K. Haridas, is the president of the co-ordination committee and the Kadammanitta Gothra Kala Kalari secretary, P.T. Prasannakumar, its secretary.
Mr. Haridas told The Hindu that the project will be implemented in three phases at the three acres of land identified near the Bhagavathy Temple.
Kodiyeri to inaugurate work
Mr. Haridas said the Tourism Minister, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, will inaugurate the work on the first phase of the project estimated at Rs. 33,55,000 on October 6.
The State-run Vasthu Vidya Gurukulam at Aranmula has prepared the project report. Mr. M.S. Biju, project engineer, said the padayani village project has been planned in an environment-friendly manner.
Renovation of the temple pond, construction of a decorative gate, granite mandapam, protection of the sacred grove and paving of granite slabs on the pathways, will be carried out in the first phase, he said.
According to Mr. Haridas, padayani kalari and museum will be set up at a total cost of Rs. 70,000 in the second phase. The third phase of development works worth Rs. 90 lakh include, an open-air theatre, mandapam, dormitory, guest house, sanitation facility, etc.
The proposed Padayani Village is the brain child of the late Malayalam poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan. Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai, former vice-chairman of Kerala Folklore Academi and Mr. V.K. Purushothaman Pillai, Gothra Kala Kalari leader, are the patrons of the co-ordination committee.
He said the task of implementation has been entrusted with the District Tourism Promotion Council chaired by District Collector.
