My Travel

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Chinakathoor Pooram : The most colourful pooram of Kerala was celebrated on 28 Feb 2010 at Chinakathoor Kali temple, 4 km from Ottapalam on the Palakkad road. The pooram activities begin at 2 pm and there was no vehicular traffic on the temple road up to 7 pm.

Kuthira vela is the main attraction. 'Kuthira' means horse, 'vela' means festival in Malayalam language. More than 17 Kettukazcha (effigies of horses) were carried by the public to the temple. The horses (Kuthira) are more than 2 metre high fitted on a wooden base. During Kurhiravela, public throw the kuthira air for 3 to 4 times. Don't forget to carry a dust mask to witness the program closely.



The other attractions of the pooram are kavadis, chariot, Kari vela (person will blacken the face with charcoal), Panchavadyam, Caparisoned elephants, thira, theyyam, vellattu, pootham, kaalavela, Aandi vedan, brass band, chendamelam, Tholpavakoothu, Kubhamkali and other dance forms of Kerala.



Chinakathur pooram video >> Theyyam dance >> Kuthira vela 1 >> Kuthira vela 2 >> Kuthira vela 3 >> Pooram

Kavadi - Theyyam dances

Fight during the Chinakathur pooram

Due to wide active pubic participation in this pooram small fights are common. Including youth consumes alcohol. View the fight during kavadi dance in this video.

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Peruvanum Pooram : The festival was celebrated on 25 March 2010 at 5 pm in the Mahadeva temple located near Cherppu. This ancient temple has good sculptures in the Sanctum Sanctorium. I reached the temple by bus (Rs 7) from Shaktan stand, Thrissur. Caparisoned elephants and 3 hour long Panchavadyam were the prime attractions. Anachamayam was exhibited in front of the temple. By 11.30 pm the Panchavadyam by Chottanikkara Vijayan Marar started. On 26th 3 am Pandimelam was performed. At 4.30 am, the climax of the pooram, Pancharimelam by Peruvanum Kuttan Marar's group.

Pooram Videos : Video 1 >> Video 2 >> Anachamayam >> Video 3 >> Pancharimelam 1 >> Pancharimelam 2

Pancharimelam is performed inside the temple while Pandimelam is performed outside the temple preimses. Chenda, Ilathalam , kombu and kuzhal are performed during this classical percussion performance. Pancharimelam is percussion ensemble lasts more than 4 hour performed in temples of Central Kerala.

Pancharimelam can be witnessed during the temple festivals of Peruvanam, Arattupuzha, Kuttanellur, Edakkunni, Oorakam, Cherpu, Thaikkattussery, Chakkamkulam, Thottippal, Chathakkudam, Pidikkapparambu, Thrissur, Guruvayur, Thripunithura and Koodalmanikyam.

Arattupuzha Pooram : Arattupuzha Pooram is the oldest and the most spectacular of the pooram festivals of Kerala. Pooram was celebrated on 28 March 2010 from 5 pm onwards at Arattupuzha Sree Sastha temple (3000 year old). 23 deities of various temples participate in the Pooram. The deity Sastha was brought to the venue for the Pooram in a procession around 6 pm accompanied by 15 caparisoned elephants. Thiruvambadi Sivasundar carried the idol. Temple is 14 km from Thrissur.

Percussion ensembles, led by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, drummed up excitement. More than 200 percussionists such as Kelath Aravindakshan, Pazhuvil Raghunath, Peruvanam Satheesan, Peruvanam Sivan and Peruvanam Prakasan participated in the Panchari Melam.

After the pooram (elephant parade) fireworks followed. On 29th at 5 am, 61 caparisoned elephants were present at Mandram kadavu for the Kootiezhunullippu (Aarat).

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Nenmara Vallangai vela : The Bhagavathy temple is located near Nenmara at Nellikulangara. The annual festival is celebrated on 3 April 2010 at 4 pm with 2 sets of 11 caparisoned elephants from Nenmara and Vallangai desoms. At around 5 pm, there was fine display of fireworks from the two sides. The two illuminated towers were excellent, displaying all the rainbow colors. At 3.30 am on 4 April, there were fine display of fireworks for 2 hour duration, Costing more than Rs 1 corore. Tens of toudands of witnessed the firworks display after a long wait in the night. The sound and dust levels are very high, so take proper precautions.

Nenmara is 4 km from Pollachi and 26 km from Palakkad ( Rs 15) on the Pollachi- Thrissur road. Nennmara has good connections from Thrissur and Pollachi. Kozhikode - Palakkad is 140 km (3.5 hour).



Videos : Illumination >> Fireworks

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Nelliyampathy is a fascinating hill station at a height of 1752 m. At least 10 hair pin curves has to be negotiated to reach the evergreen forest hill station. Seerthakund view point is the main attraction other than the Orange plantations. The Seerthakund-Kollengode trek is the delight of trekkers. The charming Pothundy dam site is 6 km from Nennmara.



The popular hill station Nelliyampathy is 30 km from Nenmara. Nelliyampathy bus leaves from Palakkad at 0430, 0530, 0700, 0930, 1230, 1330 and 1700 h.

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Thrissur Pooram is called 'the pooram of all poorams (festivals)". It is celebrated in mid-April to mid-May according to the Malayalam calendar. The festival activities begin on the Pooram day with pakal pooram of 15 caparisoned elephants followed by the famous Elanjithara melam (Panchavadyam).

The main features of the pooram are these decorated elephants with their nettipattam (decorative golden headdress), beautifully crafted kolam, decorative bells and ornaments etc. The kudamattom at around 4 pm - raising of colourful parasols - is the main attraction. The fireworks display in the early hours of the next day (4.30 am), rival shows held anywhere in the world.



Pandimelam is performed outside the temple premises.

Pandimelam 1 >> Pandimelam video 2

Fireworks

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Kanchipuram is a temple city 65 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also famous for the silk sarees.

I reached Kanchipuram bus stand at 4 pm and hired a bicycle from a nearby shop. I visited the Kamakshi Amman Kovil having a golden dome and a golden gopuram. Then I visited the Ekambareshwara temple having an impressive high towering gopuram and a 540 pillared hall. From there I reached the Kialashanatha temple, 2.5 km away. Then I returned to the bus stand for visiting nearby Vaikunda Prumal temple.

From this temple, Varada raja Perumal temple was 3 km away. This Vaishnavite temple is the main temple of Kanchipuram with towering gopurams, 100 pillared hall with single stone carved chains (Entry Rs 10, Video Rs 100) at the four corners and a temple pond. It will be worth to visit the temple during festival season.

On the return journey to Chennai at 7 pm, the bus passes near the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Perumbadur, 30 km from Chennai.

Watch the temple videos

Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the three holy places of Sakthi worship in India, the others being Madurai and Varanasi. The temple in the present form was built by the Cholas during 14th century A.D.



Ekambaranathar temple is an ancient temple of Kanchipuram, and has been renovated by the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Vijayanagar Kings. The 57 metre high Rajagopuram is one of the tallest towers in South India. This temple has five spacious corridors (prakrams) and a beautiful 1,000 pillar hall (540 actually in number).



Sacred Mango tree : The 2,501 year old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yielding different varieties of mangoes.

Kailashnatha temple

Kailasanathar Temple
This Pallava temple was constructed in the 8th century and has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvathi in the midst of one of their innumerable dance competitions. The architecture of this temple resembles the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram.



Vaikunda Perumal temple

Vaikuntam Perumal Temple
This is one of the important Vishnu temples which was built by Pallava King Nandivarman Pallavamalla in the 7th century A.D. Numerous inscriptions are found in this temple relating to the wars between the Pallavas and Challukyas. The presiding deity Lord Vishnu is depicted in sitting, standing and reclining postures.

Varadaraja Perumal temple

Varadarajar temple, Kanchipuram near Chennai is a massive and impressive edifice. The riders on horseback, beautiful figures of Rathi and Manmatha, exquisite temple jewellery are other notable features. This temple provides a glimpse of a 16th century pillared pavilion with an exuberant workmanship.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple was built by the Vijaynagar kings and the presiding deity is Devarajaswamy. The 100-pillared hall of this temple proves the mastery of the sculptors of Vijayanagara in fine artists. The ornamental rings carved out of a single stone in a chain at the four corners are the special features of the hall and the figures of the God of Love and his consort astride a swan and a parrot.

The annual Garudothsavam (May - June) is most colourful and draws thousands of devotees.

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Other main temple of Kanchipuram are the Kumara Kottam Temple, Ulahalanda Perumal Temple and the Kacchapa Eswarar Temple.

The Kumara Kottam Temple is located in between the Kamakshi and Ekambareshwar temples in the Somaskanda formation. In the sanctum, Muruga is in a seated pose. Valli, Deivayani are absent here, but their festival idols are kept here. In accordance with the function of Creation he has assumed, his right arm is in Abaya pose, the upper hand holds the rosary, and the lower left arm is on the thigh in Katyavailambita pose with the left arm holding the Kamandalam. The posture is also called "Brahma Chattam".

The Ulahalanda Perumal Temple was built in Chola period and its situated about half a kilometer from the centre of the town near Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the oldest temples in Kanchipuram. The main deity of this temple is 35 feet high and 24 feet wide posing with one foot on earth and the other on the sky. This form is called Trivikrama. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam's of Lord Vishnu.

The Kacchapa Eswarar Temple was built by Pallava Dynasty. In this temple, Siva appears as being worshipped by Vishnu in the form of turtle (kurmemerali). "Kacchapam" is Sanskrit for "Turtle". Hindu mythology suggests that the main deity in this temple (Lord Shiva) was worshiped by Lord Vishnu in the form of a Turtle.

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On 17th June 2010 at 17.40 h, I boarded 2602 Mangalore - Chennai Central train from Kozhikode. On the next day at 5.30 am, I arrived at Chennai station. From there I reached Parrys by bus. As there was no direct bus to Mamallapuram, I catch a Kovalam bus. I visited the Darga near the Kovalam bus station before boarding the Mamallapuram bus. The crocodile bank, tiger's cave, MGM Dissiworld, Sea lion show were on the 20 km route.

Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram is located 65 km south of Chennai via Kovalam in Tamil Nadu State, India. The main monuments of the town include Arjuna's penance, butter ball, World Heritage sites like Five Rathas and the Shore temple. All the monuments are located within the vicinity of Mamallapuram bus stand at a walkable distance.

On right side of the Mamallapuram bus station was the Arjuna's penance, Butter ball and the Durga temple. From there the road leads to Panch rathas 1.5 km away via a stone carvers' village. There were plenty of finished statues, deities for sale and the artisans were busy in their work.

Arjuna's penance video

One school believes that the sculpture shows Arjuna undertaking a penance to obtain a rare weapon against his enemies. The other School believes that it portrays the legend of the River Ganges's descent to earth. Arjuna's Penance has over 100 figures of gods and semi divine creatures, birds and beasts, man and saint.

Varaha mandapam video

This is a fine completed architecture which lies besides the Arjuna penance. The entrance has two pillars engraved with two horned lion – bases, and a cell protected by two gate keepers. There are four striking bas-reliefs, the northern one with Lord Vishnu (Varaha) Varaha (the mighty boar) standing at one feet on top of Naga, the snake king. He is rescuing Prithvi, the goddess earth from the primordial ocean. Varaha triumphed in his attempt and he holds the disc with his upper hands and lower hands holding Prithvi who is seated on his knees. The southern wall portrays Lord Vishnu as Vamana (a small figured Brahmin). He (Vamana) approaches empower Bali, a tyrant, requesting him to grant a land which will enable him to cover three steps. Empower Bali grants him the wish and Vamana covers the earth with one step, the Heavens with the second and the third on Bali’s head with Bali’s permission. Vamana pushed Bali to the underworld. Lord Vishnu is portrayed with his cosmic form with eight hands and eight legs. Along with Vishnu, stand Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, the Sun and the moon. The eastern wall to portray with Goddess Lakshmi with two maidens and two elephants powering water on the head which are portrayed on the backdrop.

The next side has the carving of Goddess Durga standing on a lotus. She is standing under the shade of a royal umbrella with her four hands. This is exactly portrayed to that of Draupadi Ratha.

Butter ball

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Ramanuja mandapam video

A Mandapa is an open pavilion or a hall with cells in the back wall and is cut out of a single piece of rock.

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Stone carver's village

The exit from the Arjuna's penance - Varaha manadapam - Ramanuja Mandapam - light house - leads to a village full of stone carving families. The shrill sound of working on stone, transforming the raw stone blocks to perfect statues are an unforgettable experience.



Video