February 29, 2004

Nenmara Vela

Nenmara Vallangi Vela is the annual twenty one day festival at Nellikulangara Bhagavathy temple in Palakkad. To invoke the blessings of Nellikulangra Bhagavathy, the people of Vellanghi and Nenmara conduct a festival on 20th Meenam (March-April)
every year. This is the famous Vellanghi Vela. This beautiful temple is in the Vellanghi village of Chittur taluk. The festival is jointly celebrated by the two neighbouring villages Nenmara and Vallangi.

The Vela is conducted to highlight the meeting of the deities of the Nenmara Bhagavathy temple and Vallangi Siva temple on the concluding day. The festival begins with the ceremonial Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) and concludes with Vela during which 30 caparisoned tuskers line up in majestic splendour under a heavily decorated canopy.

The Nenmara Vallangi Vela spectacle is considered next only to the Thrissur Pooram. On all festival days except the Vela day, the Kalamezhuthu Pattu ritual and the ancient ritual artform Kannyarkali are conducted. Traditional temple music - Panchavadyam and Pandimelam along with folk artforms like Pulikali , Karivela, Andi Nayadi etc and fireworks display turn the temple to a fair ground of celebrations.

Getting there:

Nearest railway station: Palakkad, about an hours drive from the shrine.

Nearest airports: Coimbatore in the neighbouring State of Tamilnadu, about 55 km from Palakkad, Cochin International Airport, about 134 km from Palakkad.