Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple is a famous temple located at Mavelikkara in the Alappuzha district. The Kettukazhcha festival is one of the reasons that make this temple popular among many pilgrims. Thousands of devotees visit this temple during the annual festival to watch its festivities. The annual Chettikulangara Bharani festival is conducted during the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February-March).
The festival is a spectacular one with decorated tall structures on chariots and fantastic cultural performances. People would also admire the beautifully decorated effigies of bullocks and horses arranged during the processions.
The main deity of Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple is Jagadamba or Bhadrakali. Thousands of devotees visit this temple to offer prayers to the goddess. It is believed that the goddess in the temple has amazing healing powers. There is a huge oil lamp in the temple with the capacity to light more than 1000 wicks. February and March are the best months to visit this temple as the Bharani festival is conducted during these months. A lot of festivities and grand feasts are arranged during this time.
History of Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
According to the legend, once when some local chieftains went to witness the annual festivities at the Koypallikarazhma Bhagavathi temple, they were humiliated and ridiculed by the Koypallikarazhma temple authorities. Thus they thought of constructing a temple at Chettikulangara.
The Karanavars (Family Heads), the four to five then leading families of the region, decided to take it as their duty and perform 12 days long 'Bhajan' to please the Goddess, Kodungallur Bhagavati. It is believed that Devi gave them 'Swapna Darshanam.' The next day, they returned to Chettikulangara with a sacred sword given by the Velichappadu of Kodungallur temple and started civil works of the temple.
Another story tells that this temple was consecrated by Padmapadacharyar (a leading disciple of Adi Shankaracharya) on the Uthrittathi day of Makara month in the year 823.
Architecture of Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
The main distinctive feature of this temple is the huge oil lamp called Kathuvilakku (made of granite) which accommodates more than a thousand wicks and is the largest in India. The Upadevathas (deities) in the temple premises are Yakshi, Muhurthi, Rakshas, Thevara Moorthy, Kannamballi Bhagavati, Ganesh, Nagaraja, Naga Yakshi, Balakan, and Vallyachan. There is another small shrine for Moolasthanam. A Kavu (a patch of a small forest, which houses the serpent Gods), Karimbana (black palm tree), and the nearby Chembakam tree in the premises are also places of worship.
Festivals Celebrated at the Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
The temple celebrates different festivals some of which are:
Kumbha Bharani: The festival takes place in February or March and is considered one of the most important festivals.The preparations for the same start on Shivaratri.
Ethirelpu Ulsavam: It is an annual festival that starts on the tenth day following the Kumbha Bharani festival. It is celebrated for 13 days. The performance of classical arts takes place during the evening time.
Aswathy Ulsavam: The festival ends the five-month festival season. During the festival, the deity leaves the temple to meet her mother and then further rituals are carried out.
