Nenmara
Vallengi Vela- Nenmara Vela- Vallengi vela at Nenmara.
Nenmara is a
small village in Chittur taluk of Palakkad district on the Thrissur-Pollachi
route, famed for its popular festival Nenmara-Vallengi Vela.
The Vela is a
festival commonly celebrated in the villages of Palakkad and Thrissur
districts, especially in the regions of Talappilly taluk. During summer, the
fields are vacant and dry after the harvest, reason why Vela is held this
season.
Nenmara —
What was once a trade center
Nenmara and
Vallengi were important trade centers in the past and were under the
administration of Kochi
The name Nenmara
is believed to have originated from the words ‘ney maariya ooru’ meaning the
place where ghee products were traded. It is also suggested that the name
originated from the words ‘Nenmaniyude Ara’, which means the granary of rice
due to the large-scale paddy production here.
Nenmara-Vallengi
Vela
Vela is the time
of reunion for villagers of Nenmara and Vallengi. The Nenmara Vela is
celebrated on a scale matching the Thrissur Pooram.
According to
folklore, the festival is celebrated to mark the birthday of the presiding
deity of the village temple or in memory of a major event like the killing of a
demon by the goddess.
The Vela falls on
the 20th day of Malayalam month Meenam (2nd or 3rd of April every year).
Nenmara and Vallengi are the two villages participating in the vela and they
have their own temples and a common temple known as the Nellikkulangara
Bagavathy temple where the two groups can interact.
The festivities
begin ten days prior to the actual day of the Vela with the hoisting of a flag
known as Kodiyettam in the respective temples. The natives are not supposed to
leave the village once the flags are raised.
Attractions
of Vela
Kalam Pooja and
Kalam Paatu are performed and the songs in Kalam Paatu are for praising the
Bhagawathi and telling her legendary story.
The folk dance of
Kummatti is conducted to resemble the scene of gods supporting the Bhagavathi
in heaven in the act of killing the demon Daarikan. Kari Vela is performed to
renact the scene of Bhagawathi returning victoriously with Lord Shiva’s
disciples, called the Bhootha Gana, after killing the demon.
During Andivela,
the nocturnal auction of elephants used in the Velais conducted. Lakhs of
rupees are collected during the auction. One who wins the auction gets the
opportunity of starting the Ezhunnallath from his house. Thidambu Pooja and
Thidambu Kayattal are the major functions during the final Vela day.
The Vela is an
authentic display of religious ceremonies, cultural events, fireworks and grand
processions of decorated elephants, all of them events accompanied by
traditional instrumental music. it brings in the spirit of celebration and
rejoices the people of the region.
A pandal is a
huge arch-like structure illuminated with numerous lights. Kudamaatam is held
in Nenmara and a number of coloured umbrellas made of silk and decorated with
coloured thread are displayed one after the other along with aalavattam and
venchaamaram.
Panchavaadyam is
played and the elephants assemble in front of the temple and offer homage to
Bhagwathi. The elephants of Vallengi go to their mannam and this is called the
Kavirakkam.
Immediately after
this is a firework display for Vallengi that is witnessed by thousands of
people who have gathered in Nenmara’s empty fields. After this fireworks are
let off, for Nenmara desam and the fireworks for both the desams last for more
than one hour.
Now come the
processions which move to their respective mannams and the thaayambaka begins.
The processions reach the pandal and pandimelam early in the morning of the
next day. By 3 am, fireworks, called raathri vedikkettu, begin.
Another important
attraction of the Nenmara-Vallengi Vela is a special structured form of
fireworks called the kuutu. This is a unique feature of the Vela and to view
this people come from neighbouring districts and also from Tamil Nadu.
Lakhs of rupees
are spent every year and each desam tries new innovative techniques to make
their kuutu more interesting. The procession to Nenmara reaches mannam before 9
am and the thidambu is brought down from the elephant. This marks the end of
Vela.
Artricle by Abin K I Kochi chronicle-
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