Palliyodam - Film Screening and Discussion

​Join us for an evening with a documentary that follows the Palliyodam of Aranmula and the sacred waters of the Pamba River, where the story of a whole community is carried across generations. Rooted in devotion rather than competition, the Palliyodam has long stood as a living symbol of faith and continuity in the tradition of the Aranmula Vallam Kali (boat race).

​Told through the voices of three people whose lives are inseparable from the river, the film traces the origins of this heritage and the rituals that sustain it, moving from the careful restoration of the boat and the temple blessings through the Valla Sadhya and into the vibrant celebration on the water. What emerges is less a record of a famous event and more an intimate portrait of belonging, where history is remembered through ritual and every journey across the river becomes a tribute to those who came before and those still to come.

​The screening will be followed by an open discussion, a space to share responses and reflections on the film.

​The film is produced in Malayalam and has English subtitles.