Land of Festivals

Its a matter of being at the right place at the right time...and there's no better time like APRIL to be in KERALA if you love festivals (As I found out this time around).

I came to Kochi this April thinking it was goining to be another of those short sweet visits (3 days, a week,10 days which has been the case for the last 3 years). Thanks to my new employer its been now over a month and must admit has been one of the best time in my life....

First week into my vacation and I get a call from my friends and I'm more than anxious to see the NENMARA-VALENGHI vela (As I have heard about it in the past)....So mid day into 2nd of April four of us are in the car for our first experience of the vela (barrig TJ whose been there before).

The drive to nenmara is a pleasant one with lots to discuss with friends around meeting one of my schollmate on route at aluva. As we reach near to nenmara we could sense the excitment in the air....the whole village is up and ready for the annual festival.

We park our car some 4 Kms (that's according to TJ, we felt it was far more!) from the paddy fields where the actual festival takes place. The walk is some what tiring (especially if you are lazy! and don't exercise ;-)).

First view of the place, the hills, the greenery and youre absolutely stunned! So beautiful...Its surely "GODS OWN COUNTRY"

The localites tell us there is possibilities of it raining and so the fireworks would start early... Thank god we are in time and it starts.....What a display!! Its firepower that would put armies to shame....thundering skies thats wat it is.....and then "RAINS". (Run for cover)


An hour later, and a few soaked people it stops raining and what, the elephants have all been rested after a hard days work...but the festivities continues....we have our round across the decorations of both the villagers and then climb down to where we parked our car to wait till morning for the BIG!BIG fireworks.......
Come 3 AM, off we are back climbing to see the fireworks...Its one climb tats worth all of what it takes.....The fireworks were absolutely stunning...it puts everything else you seen to shame...the crowd goes bezerk with the fireworks (you just realise how passoinate mallus are about thier festivities). At 6 AM everything is over as the fireworks have ended and people start leaving...We climb down for the last time. this year...wowing to be back (whenever god permits).

Thrissur Pooram

Fresh from the experience at vela there wasnt a need for a second thought when it came to going for thrissur pooram - know as the "poorangalude pooram" (Pooram of poorams or the King of pooram). So come 16th, me and VR are on our way to thrissur.......

The people in thrissur are one lot of people who know how to celebrate a festival. The "ROUND" (that cirlces the famous Sri Vadakunathan temple) is decorated to near perfection, with people thronging the venue in large numbers.
As small poorams continue we go to check out the magnificient lot of elephants on display... They are a majestic lot of animal and you can never end being amazed by thier beauty. Localities tell us that this time around also the "Anachamayam" is going to be something to remember.

Last time around ( tats was way back in 2003) we had not gone inside the temple. (I believed that i have never been inside vadakunathan temple before till my mother corrected me later...she tells me i've been there before when i was way too young.). So this time around we dont want to miss out on wats happening inside the temple and we got a glimpse of one of the small poorams happening inside the temple.
As we try to come out, its all ready for the main pooram where the rivals (Thiruambady & Paramekavvu) display thier might!! We catch ourself a good enough spot bang in the middle of the ground where we can see both the contingents...

And sure we did see a awesome display of beauty......the "Kudemattom" as always been the focal point this year... There were lot of innovations in the nature of Kuda (umberlla) but it still retained the traditional touch....the crowd (which was a record this year - as per next days papers) was shoutingh thier support and it is one thing that makes it a truely memorable event.

As night falls the town is a view to behold. Decorative lights marks the Cultural capital of kerala. We spend our night watching two (yes u read it right) movies back to back. How can you be at the poorams and miss the famous firework display......

At sharp 4AM we witnessed the famous firework display which marked the end to the festivities. On our way back tired as we are we decide between ourselves...not to miss this one festival..