Chettikulangara all geared up for Kumbha Bharani festival-OxBig News Network

Children practicing the dancing steps of Kuthiyottam. The Kumbha Bharani festival at Chettikulangara Devi Temple near Mavelikara will be held on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

All arrangements are in place for the Kumbha Bharani festival at Chettikulangara Devi Temple near Mavelikara on Tuesday.

According to the temple authorities, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be opened at 4.30 a.m. The rituals and pujas in connection with the festival, which commenced a week ago, will reach their pinnacle on the festival day with the ‘Kuthiyottam’ performances and ‘Kettukazcha’ pageant. People who offered ‘Kuthiyottam’ performances to the deity have trained boys in the dancing steps of ‘Kuthiyottam’ with the help of ‘asans’. The ‘Kuthiyottam’ procession will reach the temple around 7 a.m.

The biggest spectacle, the ‘Kettukazhcha’ pageant, which displays six gigantic temple cars known as ‘kuthira’ (horse motifs), five ‘theru’ (chariots) and mammoth idols of Bheema and Hanuman will be drawn to the temple from the 13 ‘karas’ around 3 p.m.

The Chettikulangara Devi Temple, dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali, is believed to be over 1,200 years old. A large number of devotees from across the State are expected to reach Chettikulangara to participate in the festival, which is organised under the aegis of the Sridevi Vilasom Hindu Matha Convention.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the region.

District Collector Alex Varghese has declared a local holiday for all government offices and educational institutions in Mavelikara and Karthikappally taluks on Tuesday, in view of the Kumbha Bharani festival. However, public examinations will be held as scheduled.