Reportedly Cochin Carnival, the largest New Year celebration in kerala, is underway in Kochi. And the iconic giant ‘Pappanji’, an integral part of the Carnival celebrations, is being built at the Parade Ground in fort Kochi. Meanwhile the effigy of an old man, 'Pappanji' is burned down on the midnight of december 31 taking the festivities to its epitome.

 

Apparently ‘Pappanji’, which in Portuguese means grandfather, is an effigy of an old man wearing a suit and with a long beard. The tradition has its roots in the colonial history of fort kochi and it has a history longer than the inception of Cochin Carnival itself. Perhaps thousands flock to fort kochi on the night of december 31 to witness the burning of Pappanji, a tradition unique to Kochi. According to the local belief, Pappanji’s burning symbolises waving goodbye to the past year and welcoming the New Year. Apparently Bonny Thomas, the artist and writer who is designing and constructing Pappanji this year, tells us how this tradition of burning Pappanji came into being and became a part of the Carnival celebrations.

 

Bonny Thomas told “This tradition was passed onto kochi from the Portuguese people who were the earlier colonisers here. Pappanji in Portuguese means grandfather, and it was their tradition to make effigies and burn it on the midnight of december 31. people used to make small effigies of Pappanji in the past, but it became an iconic event as we see now after Cochin Carnival made this custom as part of their official celebration".

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