Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple tourism
One of the significant landmarks of Chettikulangara in the Alappuzha district of Kerala is the Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple. The main deity of this temple is Bhadra Kali, an incarnation of the supreme mother Shakthi devi, born from the third eye of Lord Shiva, to kill the demon king Daruka. 'Bhadra' means good, and 'Kali' means goddess of time. One of the important festivals of this temple is the Kumbhabharani temple, which is quite an event for the people of this locality and the pilgrims from different parts of the state and abroad.
About Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple
The Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple tours and travels offers you a blissful and divine experience combined with its architectural features, making it a distinctive destination for travelers seeking to experience the spiritual and cultural aspects of Kerala. The history and the origin of the temple date back 1200 years.
There are many popular beliefs regarding the origin of the temple, and the most popular one is that some local chieftain of the Chettikulangara region went to witness the annual festival at the Koypallikarazhma Bhagavathi temple, but was humiliated by the local temple authorities and the people of Koyapallikarazhma. Agitated by the insult and with a desire to retaliate, they decided to construct this temple and set out to seek blessings from Kodungallur Bhagavathi. It is said that the devi came in their dreams and promised to come to Chettikulangara. The very next day, they returned to their place and happily started to build this temple.
In the following days, the goddess is said to have appeared before a few people and was later confirmed by the astrologer that the Bhagathi devi had finally reached Chettikulangara.
Another aspect of the belief is that a leading devotee of Adi Shankara, Padmapadacharyar, declared this temple as a sacred one on Utthrittathi day of Makara Month in 823 A.D. And there are a few more claims and disputes about the Temple's history and origin.
What to Expect?
Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple Tours and packages will give you an exposure to Kerala’s local traditions and customs that is inherited over generations.
The Temple has 13 territories known as karas. The temple is situated at the center of the 4 karas namely Erezha South, Erezha north , Kaitha south and Kaitha North. Other karas are kannamangalam south and north, Pela, Kadavoor, Anjilipra, Mattam north and south, Menampally and Nadakkavu surronds the temple.
The main deity Chittikulangara Bhagavathy Amman is believed to be the daughter of the Kodungallur Amman, brought to Chittikulangara for the well-being of the people of this locality. There are also sub-deities of this temple namely, Yakshini, Nagaraja, Muhurthi, Naga Yakshi,Kannambali Moorthy and few more.
The Chettikulangara temple is the second largest temple next to Sabarimala in terms of income, which is under the control of Travancore Devaswom Board.
The major offerings at Chettikulangara Temple are Kathiramoottil Kanji and Therummoottil Kanji received the Geographical Indication tags.
The details of this temple and its custom were recently collected by UNESCO to check whether its customs are eligible for inclusion in UNESCO world heritage list.
The Chettikulanagara Dree Bhagavathy Temple’s festival offers you a spellbound experience with its vibrant processions, traditional performances and rich cultural heritages makes it very interesting and unique.
Best Time To Visit Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple
The Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple tourism is famous for its vibrant and cultural festivals that takes places every year. Each year of Chettikulangara temple Tourism will provide you with a different experience and understanding of the rituals, customs, of the people of this region.
The main significant festival of this temple is the Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani celebrated during the Malayalam month (February to March)dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathy. The main focus of the festival is the Kettkazhcha , a giant structure of impressive figures decorated with cloth, flowers and ornaments are paraded by the locals and visitors to the temple via the city road.
There will be many cultural activities and folk performances during this festival that gives you a vibrant experience and divine feelings. Another main highlight of the Chettikulangara tourism is the Kuthiyottam where young boys of age 8 to 14 are taken in a grand procession to the temple, accompanied by drum beats, ornamental umbrellas, cultural art forms and decorated elephants.
Their bodies are coiled with silver wires, and an areanut-tipped knife is placed over their head. All the way to the temple, tender coconuts are being poured on their bodies. After reaching the Chettikulagara temple, the young boys begin to dance in front of the santum and before the mass gathering of people. While dancing , they remove the coils around their bodies where they even shed some blood to ending this ritual.
After this, the local residents bring huge decorated figures of Bhima Panchalia, Hanuman and chariots in a wheeled platforms to have darshan. After darshan , they take up thri positons in the paddy fields which lies east o the temple.
During night , The image of the devi is carried in procession to the paddy fields. The very next day, thses structures will be removed or taken away. A big bazaar will be held in Chettikulangara as a part of this festival.
Other major festival of Chetiikulangara temple are Parayeddu Ulsav or jeevatha Ezunnallathu which is performed mainly by Namboothiris and are peculiar to Onattukara. Aswathy ulsav , a unique rituals during the month of meenom attracts a large number of visitors. This festival is considered as a send off function to the deity on her journey to meet her Mother at Kodungallur. 100 if Decoraated chariots are brought to the temple which is mainly made by Children.
The temple will remain closed for a day and will be opened the day after only which concludes the five long festivities at tis temple. Chettikulangara temple tours and travels gives us a great experience by bringing the people together. It is not only a religious event and also a cultural extravaganza that unites all walks of life.
How To Reach?
By Air: The closest airport is the Trivandrum International airport which is 111 Km away and the Cochin International airport , which is 130 km away from the location. You can hire a cab or taxi to reach the temple which takes around 2- 3 hrs.
By Train:The nearest railway station is Mavelikkara Railway station and the Kayamkulam Railway Station. From these stations, one can avail an autorickshaw or cab to reach the Chettikulagara temple.
By Road:The Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple is easily accessible by road as it is connected to the major cities of Kerala. The visitors can hire private vehicles to reach this temple.
Things To Know Before Visiting Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi
In Kerala, festival dates are decided based on the Malayalam calendar and the customs and traditions of local communities.
Darshan time: Throughout the year from 5 Am to 11 AM in the morning and 4.30 pm to 08.30 pm in the Evening.
Dress code: Traditional Attire for both men and women. No upper garments for men with dhotis or Mundu, which can be brought or rented locally if you wish. Saree or Chudidhar with knees and shoulders covered. No footwear allowed inside the temple.
Peak Period: During the Festival times, mostly February – March, the Crowd will be more and there will be a lot of rituals and poojas performed. Cultural performances and customs will be a treat to watch.
General Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple travel tips: As a symbol of divine nature and sprituality, it is advisable to maintain the sanctity of the place and follow the guidelines of the Temple authorities.