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Valavanadu Devi Temple Festival – Valavanadu Puthenkavu Devi Temple Information - Annual Padayani Festival

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Valavanadu Puthenkavu Devi Temple is located at Valavanadu near Mararikulam in Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi (Bhadra Kali). The annual Padayani festival is observed on Uthram nakshatra in Malayalam Kumbham month. 

There are two sanctum sanctorum in the temple complex with two separate flagposts. Goddess Durga and Goddess Bhadra are worshipped in the sanctum. There are 14 subsidiary deities worshipped in the temple including Shiva, Ganapati, Subramania, Brahmarakshas, Sarpam, Krishna, Kodum Kali, Ayyappan, Anjaneya Swami, Naga Raja, Naga Yakshi, Vellam Bhagavathy Maar, Kandakarnan, and Arukula Swami and Sree Narayana Guru Deva. 

The festival is famous for Kuruthola Padayani, Chuttu Padayani, Vela thullal and Kozhianna Ezhunellippu. (കോഴി അന്നത്തിന്റെ അകമ്പടിയിൽവേല പടയണി നടക്കുന്ന അപൂർവ്വം ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിൽ ഒന്നാണ് വളവനാട് പുത്തൻകാവ് ദേവീക്ഷേത്രം. പ്രധാന ഉത്സവത്തിന് മുൻപ് നടക്കുന്ന കുരുത്തോല പടയണിയും ചൂട്ടു പടയണിയും ചരിത്രപ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്.


Melam, traditional Kerala temple music with five instruments, are performed as part of the festival. Traditional performing arts, music and dance are staged during the period. The temple is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights. Pageantry, floats, pulling of kuthira and colorful procession are part of the festival. 

The festival ends with Arattu. The utsava murti of the deity is taken out of the shrine for ritual bathing on the final day. 

Various unique offerings are made at the shrine during the period.

Another important day in the temple is the Makaravilakku day. Special pujas and lighting of lamps are held on the day.

The Kalavarshika is held in Makaram month.

The Thali Charthu ritual is held in Kumbha Masam.

The pathamudayam festival (April 23 or April 24) on Meda Masam 10 is an important day in the temple.

The annual Sapthaham ritual in the temple is held in Karkidaka Masam (July - August).

The temple observes the annual Karkidaka Vavu Bali ritual and Pitru Tarpanam. It is attended by hundreds of devotees.

Ashtami Rohini is observed in the temple in traditional manner.