ആലപ്പുഴ, മുണ്ടൻകാവ് വടശ്ശേരിക്കാവ് ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ പടയണി ഉത്സവം, ചടുലമായ ആചാരങ്ങൾക്കും പരമ്പരാഗത പ്രകടനങ്ങൾക്കും പേരുകേട്ട മാർച്ച് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഏപ്രിൽ മാസങ്ങളിൽ (മീനം) 8 ദിവസത്തെ വാർഷിക ആഘോഷമാണ്.
പടയണി 2025 | വടശ്ശേരിക്കാവ് ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം മുണ്ടൻകാവ് ആലപ്പുഴ | Padayani 2025 | Vadasserikavu Bhagavathy Temple Mundankavu Alappuzha
Vadasserikavu Bhagavathy Temple is situated in Chengannur, Alappuzha district. It is one of the famous temples in Alappuzha with more than 300 year old history. Bhadrakali is the main deity of this temple, subramanyan is also there.
This temple is famous as one of the ancient Bhadrakali temple which is a
prime venue of Padayani festival where it is performed annually maintaining all its ritualistic traditions.
This Dravidian ancient folk art form is celebrated for eight days annually in this temple. The legend
associated with padayani is that Bhadrakali Devi Killed a demon by name Darika who had tremendous
powers and used to cause harm to the Gods and humanity. The fight with the mighty Darika extended for
three days and Darika who had magical powers fought with her on ground and in the sky. At last she was
victorious by killing him but her anger and fury persisted. To make her calm the Bhoothagana (militants)
of Lord Shiva danced before her wearing face masks of different divine and semi divine characters which
amused her and her anger subsided. The belief that Bhadrakali Devi could also be propitiated by this
impersonations. Dance by using masks is therefore performed during the annual festival period is mainly
known as Padayani or Padeni.
Padayani 2025 | Vadasserikavu Bhagavathy Temple Mundankavu Alappuzha
The Padayani at Mundankavu Bhagavathy temple begins
eight days prior to Meena Bharani festival day during the
Malayalam month of Meenam. (Mar-April). The last four days
of the Padayani which are on Pooruruttathi, Uthrittathi,
Revathy and Aswathi star days are celebrated in a
spectacular grand scale by four kara (zonal areas) of
Mumdankavu. These zones are
Vadasseri kara,
Mundankavu Kara, Uliyanattuseri kara and Kodiyattu kara.
Other than that there are many more skillful display of
physical activities and amusements, folklore drama like
Kakkarissi Natakam and many more but the performance of
Kolam is rather much more important. The impersonations
and apparitions are called as Kolams and many varieties
are there such as Pakshi, Yakshi, Madan, Marutha,
Pisachu, Kalan Kolam,
Bhairavi,
Ambara Yakshi,
Kanjiramala, Dhoomavathi, Bhadrakali kolam etc. These
Kolams are made by painting on the spathe of the areca
palm. All varieties of kolam are manifested at Vadasserikavu
Bhagavathy Temple every year and the special kolam here
is Bhadrakali Kolam which is not usually performed in other
Devi temples. The performer of the Kolams are skillful
persons trained in this dance form for all the variety of
Kolams and dance to the tune of traditional songs meant for
each variety and the only percussion instrument used is Thappu. The song sung by the Guru which are ancient
songs made by unknown poets describes the divine, semi
divine or evil characters of the Kolam in an eager to please
them. In those songs to the evil characters they are
requested not to do any harm to the natives of that place
and beg them to keep away from there while to the divine
characters they are requested to bless the natives and to
make them wealthy, healthy and wise. Kolam Thullal is also
an offering during Padayani festival days by which the
devotee has to give the expenses for their selected Kolam
which has to be manifested. Other than this several cultural
festivals and folk arts are staged during the festival period.
Theyyam, percussion music, floats; musical concerts are the
other major attractions.
EVENTS/PROGRAMS
• Cultural Programs and Folk Arts
• Spiritual Discourses
• Percussion Music
• Musical Concerts
• Classical Dance
• Drama
• Kathakali
• Ottanthullal
• Thiruvathira
• Bharathanatyam
• Mohiniyattam
• Chakyarkoothu
• Kuthiyottam
• Kettukazhcha
Temple Location
📍 Sree Vadasserkavu Hainthava Dewaswom Trust, Mundankavu, Chengannur, Alappuzha - 689121 Kerala.
Accessibility
🏙️ Nearest Town/ Landmark/ Junction: Chengannur Town - 1.5 Km
🚌 Nearest Bus Station: Chengannur Bus Station - 1.5 Km
🚂 Nearest Railway Station: Chengannur Railway Station - 2 Km
✈️ Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport - 118 Km
CONTACT
📞 +91 479 2450 508
+91 96053 61688 Murugan (President)
