Mamankam – an Encient Festival in Kerala had a Story of Blood

Before the colonial time in Kerala, the history of this cultural heritage was decided by the local rulers and the study of the ancient history about Kerala is awesome. There had been number of ancient festivals in Kerala and now those became a fabulous part of Kerala history. Mamankam is one of them and it was very famous festival held once in every 12 years at Thirunavaya.

The festival started from the clash between the two major Kings in Kerala-Samoothiri and Valluvakkonathiri. Closely following the fall of Thirunavaya, Samoothiri captured Vanneri from Perumpadappu. The Perumpadappu Rajas was forced to shift their capital to Thiruvanchikkulam under Samoothiri's attack. After Thirunavaya was captured, Samoothiri proclaimed himself as the Rakshapurusha and announced that from then on, he had the sole right of conducting the Mamankam festival.

The next Mamankam at Thirunavaya was conducted under the auspices of Samoothiri with great pomp and splendor. 'Chaver' - Now began the custom of sending Chaver soldiers or suicide squads to the festival to dispose off the Samoothiri. These Chavers were sworn soldiers who preferred death to defeat, and who sacrificed their lives to avenge the death of their princes in the Thirunavaya war. The death of the Vellaattiri princes also started a period of intense hatred and war between the two kingdoms which was to last for more than four centuries. Kudippaka or blood feud was prevalent in the society. If a person was killed, it was the duty of the relatives or even the subsequent generations of the deceased to avenge the death.

During the Mamankam festival all other Rajas used to send flags as a symbol of regard to the Samoothiri at Thirunavaya. But Valluvakkonathiri who did not recognize the Samoothiri as the legitimate Rakshapurusha but considered him only a usurper used to send Chavers instead. If these men could kill the Samoothiri, who was protected by thousands of soldiers, the right of Rakshapurusha would have devolved on the Walluvanad Raja. There were four Nair families under Vellaattiri who used to send their heroes to fight and die in the Mamankam festival. Most of these Chaver soldiers had lost their relatives or elders in previous wars with the Samoothiri, and were fuelled by 'kudippaka' against the Samoothiri. 

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