The annual chariot festival at the famous Viswanathaswamy Temple at Kalpathy
is held in the month of November. Kalpathy is one of the ancient Brahmin
Agraharam (traditional house). Also known as Kalpathy Ratholsavam or Kalpathy
Theru festival, the festival is based on Vedic Tamil Brahmin culture which
lasts for seven days.
The main attraction of the festival are the six magnificent chariots
(three from the Viswanathaswamy Temple and three from the nearby temples
of Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy, Lakshminarayana Perumal of Old Kalpathy,
and Maha Ganapathy of Chathapuram) beautifully decorated with flowers,
flags, sugarcane, coconuts etc are ceremoniously drawn through the streets
by thousands of devotees. The procession is accompanied by caparisoned
elephants and percussion. It is believed that pulling the chariots will
wash off all the sins for a lot of generations.
During the festival days Special poojas, Vedic recitals, and cultural programmes
are held in the temple.
Three satellite temples of the Viswanathaswamy Temple in the villages of
new Kalpathy, old Kalpathy and Chathapuram also celebrate this festival.
|
Kerala 
Watch Video
