Kochi (TAN): The Malayalam month of Kumbham is here, which means its time for the grand annual festival at the Chettikulanagara Bhagavathy Temple near Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district of south India’s coastal Kerala state.
During Kumbham, which falls in February-March, the shrine witnesses celebrations that reflect the heritage, tradition and cultural opulence of Kerala and wakes up this sleepy hamlet.
Among the main attractions of the festival is Kettukazhcha, a parade of elaborately festooned giant effigies such as kuthira (horse) and theeru (chariots).
It also offers a much-awaited opportunity for the villagers and the 13 karas (regions), popularly known as Onattukara, to compete with one another in organising the rituals and festivities. The villagers of each kara carry their effigies to the temple in a grand procession, followed by a cheering crowd. Along with this, gigantic idols of Bhima, Hanuman and Panchali (characters from the great Indian epic Ramayana) are also drawn to the temple in a procession.
This temple is 1,200 years old.
Apart from the religious aspect, the festival is also an occasion for savouring mouth-watering delicacies as well. Kuthiramoottil Kanji (porridge prepared at the site of the kettukazhchas), Konjum Manga (a dish made of prawns and raw mango) and Astram are the festival specials.
