Panchayat/ Municipality/ Mararikulam South Panchayat Corporation
LOCATION District Alappuzha
Nearest Town/ Maraikulam Juction– 800m Landmark/ Junction
Nearest Bus Station Mararikkulam NH Junction Bus Stop – 1 Km
Nearest Railway Alappuzha Railway Station –14 Km Station ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Nedumbassery International Airport –73 Km
Valavanadu Puthenkavu Devi Temple, Railway Station Road, Kanjikuzhy, Valavanadu, Mararikulam, CONTACT Alappuzha- 688523 Phone: +91-478 -2862468(Temple) DATES FREQUENCY DURATION
TIME February-March (Kumbham) Annual 10 Days
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)
Valavanadu Puthenkavu Devi Temple is located at Valavanadu near Mararikulam in Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. The annual festival is observed in the Malayalam month of Kumbham. It is one of the oldest temples in Alappuzha. The annual festival is held in order to increase the vigor of the deity.
Local Approx. 10000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)
The annual festival is observed in the Malayalam month of Flag Hoisting Kumbham (February/March). There is flag hoisting Sreebhoothabali ceremony marking the beginning of the festival. The shrine Annadanam is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, Cultural Programs and flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights. There are folk arts special poojas and offerings during the festival period. Also Spiritual discourses annadanam is provided on all days. Traditional performing Seminars arts and music and dance are staged during the festival Percussion Music period. Thousands of devotees throng to witness the events Musical Concerts and rituals. Numerous cultural programs and temple arts are Kadhakali performed along with religious discourses on all days of the Ottanthullal festival. Caparisoned elephants, melam, fireworks and Arattu sheevali are part of the festival. On the final day Arattu (holy bath) takes place where the utsava murti of the deity is taken out of the shrine for ritual bathing.