Come Chingam, Madayippara in Kannur dons a blue carpet

The Malayalam month of Chingam marks a new beginning for Keralites. Usually, the harvest festival of Onam which comes in Chingam is celebrated with much fanfare in Kerala homes with floral carpets and a sumptuous feast.

Kannur: Even as rampant clay mining and irresponsible plastic dumping has already proven harmful for the environment at Madayippara, in Madayi village of Kannur in Kerala, the hillside area is in full bloom this Onam season.

The Malayalam month of Chingam marks a new beginning for Keralites. Usually, the harvest festival of Onam which comes in Chingam is celebrated with much fanfare in Kerala homes with floral carpets and a sumptuous feast.

This time, with the risk of COVID pandemic transmission and the regulations in place, people are keeping it low key. However, nature is in its full bloom.

In the past few years, the people of Kerala have been relying on the flowers sold in the markets - the different hues of marigolds and chrysanthemum - for Onam pookkalam (floral carpet) in their homes.

This time, with the COVID safety regulations against crowding up and buying flowers for Pookkalam, people are returning to the flowers available in their own front yards and around their houses.

Madayipara has now spread a blue floral carpet all over, with the Kakkapoovu (Butterfly pea), also known as Shankhupushpam in Malayalam, in full bloom. People who live nearby, pluck a few pretty blue flowers from the hillside of Madayippara to make their Pookkalam this Onam.

The hillside area, spread in about 600 acres, is rich and diverse with its flora and fauna, adding to the natural charm of Madayippara.

There are more than 500 different plant species listed in Madayippara, a storehouse of plants and other living things. Certain rare species of butterflies and birds are also spotted at Madayippara. Long ago, the whole region is said to have been under the water.

Later on, when the water receded and land emerged here, it was called 'Madu'. The name then evolved into Madayippara, according to locals.

As the rocky hill region is in full bloom now with the blue Kakkappoovu, many people have started visiting the place. It is also photographers’ paradise with many photoshoots being done here.

Nonetheless, Madayippara is under serious threat. These blooms may not last long here. Clay mining and plastic dumping has been causing a severe hazard to the environment here.

When the persons who are bound to conserve the nature and the environment here are turning a deaf ear to Madayippara’s call for help, the threat is of higher magnitude.

The people here hope that the authorities pitch in quickly to ensure that the mining and plastic dumping is prevented, thus conserving the natural environment of Madayippara.

Let us hope Madayippara continues to bloom and don a carpet of white, red, and blue flowers after this Onam and for the many years to come.