THIRU UTSAVAM SREE KRISHNA SWAMY TEMPLE Panchayat/ Municipality/ Mavelikkara Municipality Corporation LOCATION District Alappuzha Nearest Town/ Mavelikkara Town – 1.300 Km Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus station Kayamkulam Bus Station – 8.5 Km Nearest Railway Kayamkulam Railway Station – 9 Km station ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Trivandrum International Airport – 112 Km Mavelikara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple Travancore Devaswom Board Mavelikara Alappuzha - 690101 CONTACT Phone : +91-479-2302702 Website: www.sreekrishnaswamitemple.com DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME March - April (Meenam ) Annual 10 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) The holy and ancient Sri Krishna Swami Temple is at the heart of Mavelikara town and it faces towards the east. The main deity of this temple is Lord Sree Krishna with both hands stretched out for butter. Centuries ago, this temple belonged to the Idaserry Family. It is now managed and owned by the Travancore Devaswom Board. The temple is known for the ritualistic Vakacharthu which otherwise takes place only at the Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayur. The shrine is also known for the custom of parading Lord Krishna on Garuda Vahana. The festival in Meenam is celebrated to pay obeisance to the Lord and seek his blessings. Local RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE Over 25,000 (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Flag Hoisting The temple celebrates festival in the month of Meenam i.e. Utsavabali during the months of March - April for 10 days. There is a Koodi Ezhunallathu flag hoisting ceremony to mark the beginning of the festival. Annadanam During these days several traditional rituals are observed Kathakali .The shrine is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut Dasavatharacharthu leaves, flowers, traditional lamps and lights. There are Arattu special poojas, offerings and Annadanam during the festival. Cultural Programs Traditional performing arts, music and dance are staged Percussion Music during the period. Caparisoned elephants, melam, fireworks and sheevali are part of the festival. The main offering during the festival is the Dasavatharacharthu. The Arattu ceremony attracts thousands of devotees. The utsava murti of the deity is taken for ritual purification by water on the day. .