Significance: Kottankulangara Devi Temple is a very ancient and holy center where thousands of believers derive mental condolence and peace of mind to tide over the miseries of life.
Location: Kottankulangara
Address: Major Sree Kottankulangara Devi Temple, Kottankulangara, Chavara Kollam, Kerala
Google Tag: 8.97958°N 76.53512°E
Email id: enquiry@kottankulangaratemple.org
Temple Timings: 5am – 11am | 5pm – 8:30pm
Presiding deity: Goddess Durga Bhagavathy or Aadi Shakthi
Offerings: Chamayavilakku
Anpolippara
Kottan Nivedyam
Payasam
Iratti madhuram
Aravana
Panthirunaazhi
Ornaments, Silk, Kumila
Akhandanaamom
Festivals: The Kottankulangara Festival is an annual Hindu festival in Kerala, India in which thousands of men dress as women. The festival takes place at the Kottankulangara Devi temple at Chavara, Kerala which is sacred to the goddess Bhagavathy. Every year this festival is celebrated on the 10th and 11th day of Meenam.
On the festival day thousand of Devotees visit the Temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess Bhagavathy. The men dress up in the female attire of their choice. Some wear Set saari, Pattu saari, half saari or even dance costumes.
Festival begins on March 9 and will end on March 25. Around 4000 people were participated in the Chamayavilakku. The myth is a group of boys herding cows and during their play, they used to act as shy girls and offer flowers and a coconut dish called kottan to a stone. One of the boys had a divine reception from the Devi and subsequently a temple without an outer wall was constructed and the ritual of men dressed as women offering prayers to the Devi started.
