Chettikulangara Temple Kumbha Bharani Festival 2023 is on February 25th. Kumbha Bharani festival is a major Hindu festival celebrated in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (March – April). The festival is more popular in the Chettikulangara Temple of Goddess Bhagavathi located near Mavelikkara in Alappuzha, Kerala.
Kuthiyottam and Kettukazhcha during Kumbha Bharani Festival
The main attraction of the festival is the Kuthiyottam by young boys and Kettukazhcha displaying spectacular show of craftsmanship. Kettukazhcha are huge gigantic structures of kuthira’ (horse motifs), theru (chariots) and idols of Bheema, Panchali and Lord Hanuman. UNESCO has recently collected details about temple and its customs for examining whether the temple is eligible for inclusion in World Heritage list.
The preparation for Kumbha Bharani starts seven days before the “Bharani” nakshatra, and incidentally this falls on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri. Devotees from the 13 karas (places around the temple) will start construction of the Kettukazhcha to the temple from this day. Meanwhile people who pledged their children for Kuthiyottam offering will start training their children from this day. All these 7 days these people will conduct public get-togethers and arrange food for the children. The children will also be taught Kuthiyoota chuvadukal, a special dance step for the ritual.
On the day of Kumbha Bharani, the Kuthiyottam processions will start in the early morning and will last usually until afternoon. Parents will bring their children to the temple as a procession and the boys will start playing the Kuthiyootam dance in front of the Goddess. The magnificent Kettukazhcha is on the evening. The Kettukazhcha constructed on each area will be carried in procession to the temple to present them before the Devi. During the night, Goddess Chettikulangara Bhagavathy will be carried in procession to the Kettukazhcha stationed in the nearby paddy fields.
As part of the festival, a big bazaar known as Bharani Chanda is also held at Chetikulangara during the festival days.
As part of the festival, a big bazaar known as Bharani Chanda is also held at Chetikulangara during the festival days.
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