MamankamThe Visual here depicts a scene when at the last 'Mamankam celebration a lone Chavakar, (member of a suicide squad) penetrated the security forces of the Samoothiri and aimed a blow at him at close quarters. The blade of the flashing sword hit the hanging lamp and was deflected and the Samoothiri was saved; in a trice his guards slew the Chavakar. Celebration of the Mamankam festival continued in varying degrees of pomp and splendour until 1765. After the Samoothiri lost his independence and power to the British forces the celebration of Mamankam seems to have died a natural death.
The month-long Mamankam festival, being jointly organized by the district tourism promotion council (DTPC) and Thirunnavaya grama panchayat, began on the banks of Nila at Thirunnavaya on Tuesday. Zamorin P K S Raja inaugurated the fest at the Smritimandapam at Thirunnavaya Kadavu.A 'Charithra Paithrika Sandesha Yatra', organized as part of the fest, started from Thirunnavaya in the morning. Eminent cultural and literary figures will attend various sessions of the festival in the coming days.A history and cultural exhibition and kalarippayattu exhibition will also be held as part of the fest.Mamankam was an ancient festival celebrated once in every 12 years in the Thirunnavaya region of the Malabar Coast since the time of the Kulasekharas (Cheras). However, the festival was discontinued in the 18th century. The DTPC, which revived the festival, has been organizing it in association with the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) for the last 18 years.Last year the festival was jointly organized by the DTPC, NYK, panchayat and the district committee of kalarippayattu association. But, following difference of opinion regarding the organization of the event, the panchayat and NYK decided to conduct separate festivals this year.The Mamankam festival jointly organized by the NYK and kalarippayattu association concluded at Thirunnavaya on Tuesday. The fest started at Thirumandham Kunnu Devi temple at Angadippuram with a Smrithi Yatra on Saturday. The yatra concluded at the Smrithimandapam on Monday. The concluding ceremony was inaugurated by a representative of the Zamorin. Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-30/kozhikode/36635511_1_mamankam-angadippuram-p-k-s-raja
