Ponadu Chootu Padayani

Ponadu Chootu Padayani is the annual festival at the ancient Bhagavathy Temple in Meenachil taluk. The celebration starts with a colourful procession carrying bunches of dry palm fronds (chootu) around the temple. After the procession, the ritual art form 'Patayani', is performed. The strange feature of the festival is that the patayani performers hit each other with the burning chootu.