Kottakkal Viswambhara temple is located on the premises of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala in Malappuram district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu. The ten-day annual festival in the temple is famous as Kottakkal Pooram and is famous music and dance performances. The annual main pooram day falls on Thiruvonam nakshatra day in Meena Masam (March – April).
The four-armed Vishwambhara holds conch, discus, mace and lotus in four arms. The murti is carved in white marble. The temple is small chathura sreekovil and is adjacent to the Kailasa Mandiram, residential house of Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier. The temple was consecrated in 1932 and the annual festival was started in 1934.
The temple is the symbol of religious harmony as people of any faith can enter the sanctum sanctorum without any restriction.
The annual festival includes Vaishna pujas and rituals. Cultural
programs presented by eminent artists from across the country are attended by
thousands of people.
The festivities begin with a colorful procession which includes Melam. The
festival is famous for chakyar koothu, ottanthullal, nadaswaram concert, dance
performances from various parts of India, veena concert, Carnatic vocal
concerts, kathakali, patakam, panchavadyam,thayambaka, keli, melam,
ottanthullal, ashtapadi, vettakkorumakan pattu, koodiyattam and krishnanattam.