The festival is celebrated in the month of Vrischigam (Nov-Dec) in the
well known Siva shrine at Vykam in Travancore. Though the Malayalis take
part in it, the majority of pilgrims come from Madura, Tanjore, Trichinopoly,
Tirunelvelly. The chief part of the festival consists in the pilgrims
worshipping Siva early in the morning before day break. This worship goes
on till morning. The Brahmans among the pilgrims is given a grand feast
and in the night the God is carried in procession round the temple on
richly caparisoned elephant with all the temple paraphernalia. It is considered
highly meritorious to worship the god before the sun's rays fall on the
copper plate roofing of the temple, so devotees rush to the temple at
early dawn. Merchants congregate from distant places and all sorts of
wares are for sale.
