Paakkanaar Thottam- A biannual festival dedicated to the
legendary character Paakkanaar, is celebrated by the members in the community of
Paakkanaar at Thrithala, Palakkad district, Kerala on 04/April/2014. The ritual Paakkanaar Thottam
is performed throughout the night under an old tree (Kummatti kavu) on the bank of River Nila,
which is believed to be the final resting place of Paakkanaar. The festival concludes on the next day
morning with a visit to the home of Agnihothri, the descendants of the Brahmin
brother of Paakkanaar.
The story of the Brahmin scholar Vararuchi in the folklore stands against untouchability practiced in ancient Kerala. Vararuchi had 12
children from his lower caste (Paraya) wife who were all abandoned and then
grown up in different houses on the banks of River Nila as different castes.
Many of them have stories of divine powers and extra ordinary talent. Paakanaar was one among the twelve children of
Vararuchi who was brought up in a ‘Paraya’ caste family.
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