Celebrated to commemorate the legendary victory of
the Raja of Kochi, the festival of Attachamayam is held on the eighth
day of the Malayalam month of Chingam, which usually falls in August or
September at the historical town of Tripunithura, near Kochi. A grand
procession is taken out on this occasion, which is full of pomp and
show, colors abound the pageantry, replete with caparisoned elephants,
varieties of folk art forms, floats and other musical ensemble.
Some believe that this spectacular procession is to mark the beginning
of the Onam Festival, the festival of peace and equity. However, ther
are others who believe that the Maharaja of Kochi took the Athachamayam
march from Tripunithura, once capital of the Cochin estate to the Vamana
temple of Thrikkakara as a military adventure or at least to show off
his royal splendor and glory. With the end of the era of kings and
monarchs, the tradition had died out, only to be revived again in the
1960's. Also known as Athagosham, this weeklong festival now attracts
many tourists from India and abroad to Tripunithuta with its highlights
being ancient and modern art forms such as folk dances, competitions and
other entertainment programs.
