Payippad Jalotsavam

Payippad Jalotsavam is a three day water festival. Its conducted in Payippad Lake which is 35 km from Alappuzha district of Kerala state in south India. There is a close relation between this Payippad boat race and Subramanya Swamy Temple in Haripad.

The legend

The people of the Haripad village decided to build a Sree Ayyappan temple. Before the installation of the idol the people had a vision that they should install the idol of Sri Subramanya Swamy which they will find in the Kayamkulam river. The exact location of the idol will be under a whirlpool in the river. The people found the idol as per the vision and brought back Subramanya vigrah in a boat, escorted by the devotees in other boats ceremoniously. In remembrance of this event a three day water festival is conducted each year, the famous Payippad Jalotsavam.

Payippad Jalotsavam , Alappuzha

Payippad Jalotsavam , Alappuzha

The three day annual fiesta on the Payippad Lake, 35 km from Alappuzha, commemorates the installation of the deity at the Subramanya Swamy Temple, Haripad. The story is that the people of the village decided to build a temple with Sree Ayyappa as the presiding deity. After the temple was ready, they had a vision directing them to a whirlpool in Kayamkulam Lake where they would find the idol of Sree Subramanya which was to be installed at the temple. Accordingly, the elders of the village with divers and swimmers rowed to the spot and found the idol which was escorted back ceremoniously by devotees from the entire region in colourfully