Panchayat/ Municipality/ Pulpally Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District Wayanad

Nearest Town/ Pulpally Bus Stand – 300 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus statio Pulpally Bus Stand – 300 m

Nearest Railway Railway Station – 103 Km statio Road Railway Station -105 Km ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Calicut International Airport – 90 Km

Sree Seetha Temple Pulpally-Seethamount-Kollavally Road, Near Pulpally Police Station & Bus Stand Pulpally - 673579 CONTACT Contact: Pulpally Devaswom Phone: +91-4936-241175

DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME First week of January Annual 8 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

During the festival, all devotees light thousands of oil lamps on the outer walls of the temple at dusk. The term Chuttuvilakku is derived from ‘Chuttu’ meaning ‘surround’ and ‘vilakku’ meaning ‘lamp’. This is believed to bring prosperity and blessings of who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess in . A large number of people belonging to different castes and creed attend the festivities. This temple is believed to be located at the place where Sita(Lord ’s devout wife), was abandoned and subsequently gave birth to their sons Lava and Kusha and hence is associated to stories from the great epic, Ramayana. The place is famous for the leeches but the surroundings of the temple have no leeches. It is believed that Goddess Seetha cursed the leeches that bit Lava and Kusa. The Poorvasthanam of the temple attracts many people as it is believed that the great Sage resided there along with Sita, Luva and Kusha. A large number of termite mounds can be seen at different spots near the temple. The present temple structure was built during the period of Varma and stands at an altitude of 700-2100m above the sea level. There are beautiful stone pillared prakaarams around the sanctum.

Local Approximately 3000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

The festivities are inaugurated with an Eriyapelli Chetti cutting a bunch of bananas. Thousands of oil lamps are lit on the outer walls of the temple at dusk. This is known as Chuttuvilakku Chuttuvilakku. Devotees irrespective of caste and creed Pongala throng the temple in large numbers during the festival. Thalapoli Pongala is an important event of the festival during which Chendamelam women take to hearths to prepare offerings to the Goddess and seek divine blessings. Women carry thalams plates decorated with lamps, flowers, incense etc. in rows with prayers for well being and prosperity.