Panchayath/ Municipality/ Rajakkad Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District Idukki

Nearest Town/ Rajakkad – 250 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus station Rajakkad – 250 m

Nearest Railway Railway Station –104 Km station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 102 Km

Rajakkadu Mahadevar Temple, Rajakkadu,. Office :04868 242244 Secretary:9447252509 Email: [email protected] CONTACT Website: http://rajakkadutemple.com DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME April - May Annual 6 days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

Lord Shiva is the main deity in the temple. Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Lord Shiva is believed to be the destroyer of evil and the transformer within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity that includes Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the festival is conducted to celebrate the divine presence of the deity in the temple.

RELEVANCE- Local Around 50000 NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

The festival starts with flag hoisting ceremony and from Kodiyettam first day onwards events such as Para Niraykkal, Cultural programs Mulayideel, Ganapathi Homam, Prasadam oottu, Temple Arts Utsvabali, etc are held there. On the second last day late Thalapoli in the evening the custom called Pallivetta is carried out Pallivetta on the belief that Lord Shiva is on his way for hunting Uthsava Bali which begins with the ritualistic food serving called Arattu Pallivetta sadya. The grand procession during the Khoshayaathra Pallivetta Mahotsavam includes hundreds of Thalapoli, Gurusi Percussion Music, Kavadiyattam, Elephant Procession, Annadanam Panchari melam. On the last day there is Arattu Sadya followed by Thiru Arattu marking the end of the festival.