Neelamperoor Padayani

Neelamperoor Padayani is a unique folk ritual held at the Palli Bhagavathi Temple in Alappuzha, Kerala, during the month of Chingam. Unlike other Padayani performances that use masks, this 1,700-year-old tradition is famous for its Kettukazhcha, featuring massive, intricately decorated effigies of swans (Annam) and mythological characters.

The festival culminates in a vibrant procession where these giant figures, crafted from plantain pith and ixora flowers, are offered to the Goddess. It is a brilliant display of rural craftsmanship, rhythmic percussion, and a rare blend of Buddhist and Hindu cultural influences.