She is the bearer of light

It is Devaki, who represents a great legacy of Velichappadu (oracles) of Kerala. In Malayalam, Velichappadu means ‘the revealer of light’ and it is believed that gods speak through these persons, in the moments of their divine possession.

The Bhagavathy Temple of Kodungalloor, Thrissur witnesses the largest congregation of oracles from different districts of the state on the annual Bharani festival held here. Forty-year-old Devaki hails from Palakkad and members of her family, both men and women, she claims, reach the temple for last four centuries to the festival.

Clad in red, dancing in trance-like movements and shaking a special sword called ‘Pallival’ they travel on foot all the distance between Palakkad and Thrissur. It is one of those most cherished village scene that a frantically changing society could not erase yet.