KOTTUVALLIKKAVU KUMBHA BHARANI

The Kottuvallikkavu Bhagavathi temple is situated 15 kilometers to the west of the Aluva railway station in the Kottuvally village of Paravur taluk. This temple is said to have been built by Kottaukal Padanayar from Kodungalloor (Cranganore). Even now the people of Kodungallur consider Devi as their fostering-deity and make offerings to her. On the Aswathy day in Kumbham (February-March) the thalappoli procession is taken from Kodungalloor on a grand scale. This is known as Aswathi Tahalappoli. The Kumbha Bharani Utsavam is celebrated here for seven days from Avitday of the Utsavam in the afternoon, a special pooja with a thousand burning wicks known as Aayiramthiri pooja is performed. On all days during the Utsavam Kalam Ezhuthu (Colour drawings with flour) and Pattu will be conducted. For the celebrations in this temple, the priest will carry in procession the sword and the foot-trinkets of Devi preceded by thalapoli performed by a large number of girls. (Girls from lines holding plates filled with flowers, lamps and offerings to God to the accompaniment of musical instruments). Afterwards the devotees depart and during the night the velans perform a special ceremony known as Pathinetsavam, bell-metal vessels, earthenware, mats etc. are offered for sale.

Aayiramthiri pooja thokkam is one of the rituals performed in Bhagavathy temple. On a beam fitted to a wheeled cart men or boys are tied and the cart is taken round the temple to propitiate the goddess