Kuthiyottam is an important ritual held during the annual
temple festival and Pongala at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Boys below the age of
12 perform Kuthiyottam ritual. The ritual is performed to please the Goddess
and get her blessings.
Bookings for participating in the ritual begin well in
advance.
The young boys represent the wounded soldiers of Goddess Mahishasura
Mardini.
On the third day of the annual temple festival these young
boys receive the prasadam (offering) from the temple priest and start a seven
day penance to purify their body and mind.
For the Kuthiyottam ritual they have to pass through
rigorous physical and mental discipline such as sleeping in mat, observing
strict diet restrictions, staying in the temple etc.
Besides these, the boys have to undergo such disciplines
like prostrating 1008 times before the deity after their morning and evening
oblations.
The Kuthiyottam is offered during the Attukal Pongala festival.