Important Festivals at Chakkulathukavu Temple Kerala

Important festivals celebrated at Chakkulathukavu Devi Temple in Kerala. One of the most popular goddess temples in Kerala, Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple is believed to be more than 3000 years old. Below are the main festivals celebrated at the temple.

Pongala

Chakkulathukavu Pongala, similar to Attukal Pongala, is a major festival celebrated during the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November - December) every year. Performed mainly by women devotees, this ritual involves offering Pongala (rice pudding) to Chakkulathamma. 

Naree Pooja

Women are highly respected in our Hindu tradition. Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple has comprehended this concept as such and introduced this fascinating ceremony. As per the ritual, women are seated on specially arranged seats and their feet are respectfully washed. 

First Friday

The first Friday of every Malayalam month gains special importance at the temple. Devotees observe meticulous fasting and penance and visit the shrine on this day. The small idol of the goddess which is usually placed inside the sanctum sanctorum beside the main idol is carried in procession. It is brought to the specially arranged place for prayer.

An important task on the First Friday is the oath that certain devotees take against their habit of intoxication. The concerned devotees touch the divine sword of the goddess and the chief priest tells the oath of refraining from liquors and they repeat the prayers. The prayers are so important that they will give up the use of liquor.

Another significant feature is that the devotees receive a special kind of medicinal water called as “Outshadha Vellam”. Consuming this water heals all type of diseases.

Pandrandu Noyampu

Every year, Pandrandu Noyampu fasting starts from the first day of the Malayalam Dhanu masam till the twelfth. Pilgrims visit the temple with Irumudi (bag with two parts) upon their heads. On the eleventh day is the ‘Kalasabhishekam’. On the twelfth day, children, women and men hold ‘Kavadi’ (semi-circular wooden frames decorated with flowers and feather). This is called “Ammachi Kavadi”.

Kalamezhuthu and Nirapara are other major festivals celebraed at Chakkulathukavu Temple.

Thrikkarthika

Thrikkarthika falls in the Malayalam Vrischika masam and this is an auspicious day of the temple. Special rituals such as Divyabhishekam, Pongala, kindling the Karthika Pillar, Lakhshadeepam and Athazhapooja are performed.