About 55 km away from Palakkad town in Kerala, there is a village called Pattambi and there resides an ancient pilgrim centre, Pattambi Mosque. The mosque is famous among the people of Palakkad through its annual festival of Pattambi Nercha. The event is such a grand display of lights and colours. This feast is held in memory of Aloor Valiya Pookunjikoya Thangal, a Muslim saint of the Malabar region.
The festival is quite as same as the temple festivals with different cultural programmes of Islam traditions. During the festival, the mosque and the streets are brightened with electric bulbs and serial lights that illuminate the entire town like stars shining in the sky. The vision of the streets at night is such a treat to your eyes. The mosque procession is made colourful with the addition of caparisoned elephants, decorated floats and musical waves like Panchavadhyam and Thayambaka.
Daffumuttu and Kolkali are the major traditional art forms being performed on festive nights. The enormous procession of elephants and devotees ends on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River. This winding ceremony is as glorious as all the other rituals that enhance the grandeur of Pattambi Nercha.
