Kumbha Bharani festival is celebrated at Chettikulangara Bhagavathi temple (Phone: 91 479 2348670) located in Mavelikara taluk in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The festival falls on Kumbha Bharani according to Malayalam calendar and is on 16 Feb 2013. The main attraction of the festival are Kuthiyottam ritual and the Kettukazcha.



Kuthiyottam is in fact a ritualistic symbolic representation of human ‘bali’( homicide). The Kuthiyottam ritual starts a week ago and a pandal is placed in front of the house. Devotees are offered food on all days. This year, 19 devotees are offering the ritual. This is a colourful procession with caparisoned elephants, colourful art forms of Kerala including Bhadra Theyyam, Panchavadyam, Chendamelam, Mayilattom, Ammankudam and Aattakavadi. The expenditure expected is Rs. 10 lakh plus.



Early in the morning on Bharani, after the feast and other rituals, the boy's body is coiled with silver wires, one end of which is tied around his neck, and an areca nut fixed on the tip of a knife held high over his head. He is taken in procession to the temple with the accompaniment of beating of drums, music, ornamental umbrellas etc. Tender coconut water is poured on his body,till they reach the temple. At the end of it, the boy stands at a position facing the Sreekovil (Sanctum Sanctorum) and begins to dance. The ceremony comes to an end with the presentation of prizes to the Gurus (teachers). This dance if performed in pairs is called Iratta Kuthiyottam.



On the festival day Kuthiyottam procession begins in the early morning 8 am to till noon. The 13 karas (villages) related to the temple will parade huge Kettukazcha chariots in front of the Devi from 5 pm. Hundreds of devotees pull huge chariots, horses and Hanuman to the temple premises.



How to Reach

The temple is 8 km from Kayamkulam near Mavelikara in Alappuzha district, Kerala.
Can be accessed from Haripad or Chengannur via Thattarambalam.