Hundreds of people from different parts of the State and outside thronged this small town in Palakkad on Saturday to witness the finale of the famous Nenmara-Vallangi Vela festival that equals the Thrissur Pooram in grandeur.
Fireworks and caparisoned elephants added attraction to the annual festival being celebrated by Nenmara and Vallangi villages post the paddy harvest.
There was heavy rush in the town as people thronged the premises of the Nellikulangara Bhagavathy temple to witness the colourful spectacle.
Two dozen caparisoned elephants with the accompaniment of percussion instruments were taken out in processions through the town, marking the commencement of the festival. This was followed by a magnificent display of fireworks.
Special shamianas were erected to protect the revellers from the scorching heat. Arrangements were also made to spray water en-route the procession and at the main venue to keep the area cool.
Elephants were provided with water melons in huge quantity.
The vela is celebrated after the harvest of paddy, when the fields are empty and dry. The festival is believed to be the birthday of the presiding deity Nellikulangara Bhagavathy. There is also a belief that the festival is to celebrate the killing of a demon by the goddess.
The festival falls on the 20th day of Meenam, the Malayalam month.
The two competing villages, Nenmara and Vallangi, have their own temples, but converge at the common Nellikulangara Bhagavathy temple for the vela.
The festivities for the vela start 10 days before with the hoisting of flags in the respective temples. The Nenmara village starts its vela from Mandam or Vela Mandam, and Vallangi from the Siva temple.
Aana Pandal, an arch-like structure where the caparisoned elephants are accommodated, is an attraction of the event. The pandal is huge and fully decorated and illuminated with electric lamps.
There is competition between the two groups in this, too. Both the groups keep the design and illumination of the pandal a top secret to outsmart the other. The selection of the tallest and most popular elephants of the State is another prestigious issue for the competing teams.
