LOKANARKAVU UTSAVAM

Lokamalayarkavu, on Lokanarkavu Bhagavathi temple as is familiarly known, is situated at Memunda, six kilometers east of Badagara in North Kerala. Two festivals are celebrated here annually in the months of Vrishchikam (November-December) and Meenam (March-April). The festival in Vrischikam is known as Mandalavilakku, which is the most important one.

Mandalavilakku is really a grand festival worth seeing. People flock to the temple from different places to witness the festival. All the lamps on the walls of the temple will be lit on that occasion. These lights not only offer a delightful spectacle, but also help to intensify the devotion to and faith in Bhagavathi.

The Meenam festival is celebrated for eight days, the most important occasion being Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) on the Rohini day and the Arattu on the Pooram day. The special attraction on the fifth and the sixth days is the traditional dance performance of Theyyambadi Kurup. On the seventh day there will be Nadu Valam Vekka and Pallivetta and on the Pooram day there will be Poorappattu and Poorakkali. Poorakali is conducted during night. Poorappattu has theme from the life history of Bhagavathi. It is sung by Theyyampadi kurup in the Pattupura, a small shed located just in front of the temple. Since it is to be sung in the presence of Bhagavathi, the idol of Bhagavathi will be kept in that shed. A good number of Devi devotees attend this function. On pooram day, the idol of Bhagavathi is taken for Arattu.