Vettiyar Palliyarackavu Devi temple is located at Vettiyar on the Kochalummoodu – Pandalam road in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. The annual Pathamudayam festival (April 23) at Palliyarakkavu is famous for Kettukazhcha.
This is a typical Kerala temple with a chathura sreekovil, namaskara mandapam, chuttambalam, kodimaram and shrines of upa devatas.
Seven Kettukuthiras are part of the annual festival. Various Hindu temple art forms including Nandikesha, dance, music, melam, and effigies are part of the annual festival. Kettukalas are offered by devotees to the temple. The highlight of the festival is the ezhunnallathu of Bhagavathy.
As part of the ezhunnallathu, Devi goes near to each and every Kettukazhcha on Jeevatha. Shen then goes to invite her father Kandakalankavu Devan to witness the festivities. Devi returns with her father and they together witness the Kettukazhcha from the temple premises. Later she comes back to sreekovil and Deeparadhana is offered. Later at night Devi again comes out of the sreekovil to witness Kalamezhuthum Pattu, Velakali, vilakku and receives Valiyakanikka and Kaineettapara at the eastern part of the temple. The temple remains closed after Gurusi which is performed in the temple pond.
The annual festival is famous for various Tantric temple rituals and pujas. Homams, abhishekam, kalasham and other pujas are part of the festival. Melam and traditional temple art forms are part of the festivities.
The temple observes the annual pongala festival and Navratri festival with ezhuthiniruthu.