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Thursday, June 18, 2009

OACHIRA KALI FESTIVAL


OACHIRA KALI FESTIVAL-2009

The Annual two day Oachira kali festival began at Oachira padanilam on Monday 15 th june ,2009. The Oachira Kali is a martial arts festival held on the first two days of the Malayalam month of Mithunam to commemorate the historic battle between the Kayakulam and Ambalapuzha Kingdoms in the medieval times. It is also a festival associated with the Oachira Parabharma temple.
The Padanilam is wet land close to the temple men dressed as Warriors enter the water logged wet land and engage in a mock fight using sticks to commemorate the historic battle.
The mock battle is fought in a sprit of harmony and festivity. The battle decorum is for one side to advance for some time and then retreat to enable the other side to advance. The retreat and advanced take place rhythmically to the beat of drums. Hundreds of people gather on the wet land to witness the event.
Small groups too engage in their own mock fights. It is a festival in which the people of all age groups participate. Children make the most of the opportunity to splash around the knee deep water

Prof John KURAKAR

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