KonganpaDai book in the THF website

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An essay about an annual festival in Chithur, Palghat district

by Tiru. K. Arunachala KavuNTar is available at the

Tamil Heritage Foundation (THF) website.

Thanks to Dr. N. Kannan's team!

 

It is at:

http://www.naa-kannan.net/thf/nganesan/kongkan.html

 

Use navigation arrows to reach any of the 25+ pages in the booklet

and, the region's map and photos taken at the festival

are at the end.

 

KonganpaDai, Palghat district festival

------

 

The Western ghat mountains of Southern India split near

Palghat, Kerala producing a natural gap. For ages, this gap

served as the conduit for trade between Tamil Nadu and

Kerala. The rulers always ensured the safety of the merchants

along this route and did not hesitate to undertake war

expeditions against waylayers. The KonganpaDai festival,

celebrated in ChithUr of Palghat district, has its origins

traceable to one such war of 1592 A.D. An ill-informed

Madurai Nayak king started the war against Chithur. The

fact that the folks of Chithur were not responsible for the

robbery crime propelled them to join forces and defeat the

Madurai army. An ancient palm leaf manuscript, published

for the first time, reveals the King's proclamatons

for the war. This research essay explains the prevailing

circumstances, war events and contemporary festivities

in commemoration of the sixteenth century war.

 

The author of the essay covering aspects of history and

anthropology is Thiru. K. Arunachala Kavundar (1906-2000)

who got his M.A. degree under the supervision of the

great U. V. Swaminathaiyar, the editor of sangam texts.

 

I published this in 1993, but the work and photographs

were taken in mid-1970s.

 

Original message about the KonganpaDai festival

and the scanned images that were provided:

CTamil/message/471

 

Thanks,

N. Ganesan