Venue: Chettikulangara temple, Mavelikkara, Alappuzha district.

Would you miss a chance to enjoy one of the most amazing visual and cultural treats of Kerala? If no, then make sure you are here for the renowned Chettikulangara Bharani, the annual festival held at the Chettikulangara temple during the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February-March). The festival and the temple are dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy.

What makes the festival stand out among the other festivals of Kerala is a spectacular event called Kettukazhcha, a ceremonious procession of brightly decorated structures. The dazzlingly decorated structures; the bigger ones assumed as horses and the smaller ones as chariots, and cultural performances are the highlights of this spectacular pageant. These architectural and aesthetic marvels would certainly etch a remarkable artistic impression on the minds of the spectators, especially at night when the arena is illuminated by colourful lights. Kettukazhcha is an offering of the people to the deity, and stand testimony to the architectural and aesthetic expertise of the people of this region. The chariots proceed from different points in the village, representing that particular region, and demonstrate the harmony that is there in these hamlets.

Getting there:

Nearest railway station: Kayamkulam, about 5 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha.