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Elankavu Devi temple
Ilankavu devi temple is located in Vadayar, 3
Km from Vaikom. The temple premises are calm. Enhancing the
village atmosphere a river is flowing through one side of the temple.
The Chief diety is Bhagavathi called Ilankavilamma. During MeenaBharani 'Garudan
thookkam' is a main offering to Bhagawathi.
Elankavu temple festival 'Aattuvela'
is famous for its spectacular beauty. The legend behind this festival is
that the Kodungalloor devi is visiting to the temple, kodungalloor devi is
considered as the elder sister of Elankavilamma. The great procession in
water accompanied by the percussion music is to welcome kodungalloor devi.
The replica of temples are arranged in canoes, and they will come to the
temple as a procession from the aattuvela kadavu, 2 Km from the temple.
During MeenaBharani 'Garudan thookkam' is a
main offering to Bhagawathi.
Garudan Thookkam
Two people with the costumes of 'Garuda'(Eagle)
with large pair of wings and a bill will perform a rhythmatic dance according
to the percussion instruments mainly 'Chenda' (the dance is called 'payattukka'
means fighting) in the courtyard of house of the devotee. The rapid movements
with the background and the bright costumes will elevate the audience into a
rapt attention. Then a decorated vehicle will carry them to the Ilankavu
temple accompanied by the devotees and the procession will last for 2-3 hours.
The house will be illuminated like a wedding house and there will be a grand
feast for all the relatives and the natives. There will be a number of
thookkams in a year and it is an expensive offering too. Kali and Darika war
is the legend behind the thookkam. This procession is taking place in night
and it is a spectacular event. This ethnic art forms make us more creative,
more energetic and more patriatic through their uniqueness and inspiring
legends.
Location: About 40Km from Kottayam town. About 50Km from the Cochin International
Airport.
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