The annual temple festival at Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple near
Mavelikara (Alleppey District), Kerala, is observed in the Dhanu month as per
traditional Malayalam calendar followed in Kerala. Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple
Festival 2024 - 2025 date is January 4 to January 13, 2025.
The annual festival begins ten days before the Thiruvathira
nakshatra in Dhanu month. The festival ends on Thiruvathira nakshatra.
The annual festival begins with Kodiyettam or the flag
hoisting ceremony.
The shrine is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut
leaves, flowers, traditional lamps and lights.
Special poojas and offerings are made during the festival
period and Annadanam is also organized.
Pallivetta is a significant event of the festival and it
attracts hundreds of devotees.
Traditional performing arts like Kathakali and other events,
music and dance are staged during the period.
Caparisoned elephants, melam, fireworks and sheeveli are
part of the festival.
The festival ends with Arattu. The utsava murti of the deity
is taken out of the shrine for ritualistic bathing on the final day.
Caparisoned elephants and melam are part of the ritual.
Important Programs and Pujas
- Kodiyettu
- Annadanam
- Cultural Programs
- Spiritual discourses
- Percussion Music
- Kathakali
- Mohiniyattam
- Ottanthullal
- Chakyarkoothu
- Pallivetta
- Arattu
Other important festivals observed in the temple are
Shivratri and Ramayana Masam.
Kandiyoor Temple
Kandiyoor Mahadeva temple is one of the Mahakshetrams of
Kerala. This place is also known as Dakshina Kashi.
Legend has it that Saint Mrikandu, the father and guru of
the famous Markandeya, got a beautiful idol of Kiratha Moorthy, while taking
bath in the holy Ganges. He heard a divine voice that suggested that the idol
must be laid in a very holy and suitable place. The saint traveled far and wide
and reached Kandiyoor which he found to be the apt place. Thus the temple was
established. It is believed that centuries later Parasurama, the incarnation of
Vishnu renovated the temple. He gave the tantrik right to the family of
Tharananellur.
The temple has one of the biggest Linga pratishta, made by
Chola Kings. The temple has got the specialty of an unusual compound wall of Gaja Prathishta style (back of the elephant) of architecture with a height about 10 feet. It is
believed to be constructed by Bhootha Ganas of Lord Shiva in a single night.