THIRU UTHSAVAM PANDAVARKAVU DEVI TEMPLE

Panchayat/ Municipality/ Muthukulam Grama Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Town – 9.2Km Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus station Haripad Bus Station – 9.1Km

Nearest Railway Haripad Railway Station – 9.5Km station Alappuzha Railway Station – 39Km ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Trivandrum International Airport – 111.1Km

Pandavarkavu Devi Temple Muthukulam Alappuzha - 690506 Contact: Muthukulam Grama Panchayat CONTACT Phone: +91-479-2472027 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME February-March (Kumbham) Annual 9 Days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

This Pandavarkavu Devi Temple is one of the famous and ancient temples in . The temple is situated at Muthukulam, a small backwater village. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The legend has it that the murti was installed by Kunti, mother of Pandavas. The annual festival, or utsavam, in the temple is observed in Malayalam Kumbham month. Various unique offerings are made at the shrine during the period. Thousands of devotees flocked to the temple during the festival time and seek the blessings of Devi.

Local RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE About 10,000 (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Annual festival of this temple starts in the Malayalam month Flag Hoisting of Kumbham (February-March). It is a spectacular event Sreebhoothabali spanning 9 days. There will be a flag hoisting ceremony Annadanam marking the beginning of the festival. The shrine is Cultural Programs traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, Spiritual Discourses flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights for the occasion. Musical Concerts There will be special poojas and offerings during the festival Kathakali period. Traditional performing arts, music and dance are Mohiniyattam staged during the period. Caparisoned elephants, melam, Ottanthullal fireworks and sheevali are part of the festival. The festival Arattu ends with Arattu. The utsava murti of the deity is taken out of the shrine for ritualistic bathing on the final day.