Sri Krishna Temple at Thodupuzha in Kerala is famous for Chothi Ootu ritual in Meenam month (March – April). Chothi is one among the 27 nakshatras and Ootu is giving food or feeding. Thousands of people eat food from the temple on the day and it is considered as a prasadam of Bhagavan Sri Krishna and it is highly meritorious to have it. The story of Chothi Ootu is associated with a learned holy man, owl and Sri Krishna.
There lived a holy man in Puliyappadamba Mana at Lakshmi Gramam in North Kerala. He was an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. It is said that so intense was his devotion and single-minded focus that he received Sanyasa deeksha at a very early age. He was well versed in Vedas and other Hindu scriptures.
Once, he was traveling around the region and reached the spot where the present day Thodupuzha Sri Krishna temple is located. He sat in meditation and here he had a vision of splitting the beak of an owl that attempted to swallow Balagopala or child form of Sri Krishna alive. After annihilating the owl, little Krishna reached home and asked for food from Yashodha, his mother.
Suddenly, the holy man opened his eyes and had darshan of Bhagavan Sri Krishna in all his glory.
The holy man immediately lit a lamp and prepared food for Bhagavan and offered it to him. This divine event happened on Chothi nakshatra in Meenam month. Thousands of devotees arrive on the day at temple in memory of this divine event.