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Alathur Perumkulam Pavodi Mariamman Temple In Palakkad

Alathur Perumkulam Pavodi Mariamman temple is located at Perumkulam near Alathur in Palakkad district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Mariamman. The murti is swayambhu puttu – anthill. The deity faces east.

The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Kali and Muniswaran.

Pujas are performed only on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

The main offering is balls made from rice powder and jaggery. The rice powder is powdered using hand. This naivedya puja is known as pacha pooja. The temple belonged to chettiars. The temple is now administered by villagers and three chettiar families.

The annual festival is observed on the last Tuesday or Friday of Medam month. The festival is decided a week earlier by throwing flowers.

Once the date of the festival has been decided people in the village are not supposed to venture outside the village.

A unique ritual is observed during the festival in memory of a divine event of Muthukumaran who stabbed himself. This ritual is known as changala varinju kettal. The ritual involves pulling a chariot with 16 nails pierced into skin. People also pierce their tongue and thighs with soolam or vel or lance. Nearly a 100 people participate in the pulling of chariot after piercing their body.

The pulling of chariot begins from the pond of Surya Pattaru at 3:00 PM. The chariot is pulled around the village and reaches the shrine at around 8:00 PM.