Palliyodam

Palliyodam is a type of large snake boat built and used by Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple in the Pathanamthitta district for the annual water processions of Uthrattathi Jalamela and Valla Sadhya in Pamba River.

Legend

According to the legend, these snake boats were designed by Lord Krishna and were made to look like Sheshanaga, the serpent on which Lord Vishnu rests on.

Composition

Palliyodam is made from anjili. There will be 64 rowers in Palliyodam each representing 64 art forms. And the 4 rowers at the end represent the four Vedas. There are 9 golden shapes at the ends of the Palliyodam which represent the 9 planets. The Palliyodam is kept inside special sheds called Palliyoda Pura, into which outsiders are not allowed to enter.

Rules

Only men are allowed to enter the Palliyodam and they are allowed only after they followed a prescribed diet and ritual, and also they can't enter inside wearing any other clothing, except the Mundu and a thorthu.