PALAKKAD: The Kongan Pada festival which is considered to be the only war festival of Kerala was celebrated at the Chittur Bhagavathy temple, as thousands thronged to partake in the festivities.
The people of the Chittur, Pazhayannur, Vettakkorumakan and Arimandath temples joined in the festivities.
There were traffic restrictions in Chittur town in the evening. The Chittur Kongan Pada is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Nairs of Chittur against King Rajadi Raja of Kong dynasty from Coimbatore.
The people of Chittur think that goddess Bhagavathy saved them from the Chola king.
In the morning, there was the ezhunallath from the Valvechapara to the accompaniment of chendamelam, panchavadyam and caparisoned elephants.
The festival began with the sounds of ‘chilambu’ which recalls Kongan Pada’s declaration of war.
In the evening, a procession was taken out to the place called ‘Arippathattu’ which is supposed to be the battleground.
The procession was guided by the ‘velichapadu’ while the others followed him with torches held aloft.
The procession encircled the temple in the evening and a ‘messenger’ from the Kongan Pada read a scroll declaring war. A battlefield like situation was recreated and a symbolic war was staged. The Kongan team later retreated.