Kalpathi Ratholsavam - കല്പാത്തി രതോല്സവം
|
 |
The Kalpathi Ratholsavam is an annual extravaganza that reflects the fervor of Indian culture and a forum to enjoy the varsity in the Indian culture as well. The festival of Kalpathi Ratholsavam or the chariot festivals is staged at the Sree Viswanatha Swamy temple and is attended by thousands from all across the region of South India and from the foreign soil as well. The festival is dedicated to the Lord Viswanatha or Shiva.
The annual chariot festival at the famous Viswanathaswamy Temple at Kalpathy is held in the month of November. Kalpathy is one of the ancient Brahmin Agraharam (traditional house). Also known as Kalpathy Ratholsavam or Kalpathy Theru festival, the festival is based on Vedic Tamil Brahmin culture which lasts for seven days.
The annual festival of Kalpathi Ratholsavam or the chariot festival is a mega event in the district of Palakkad in Kerala. The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is regarded as one of the most remarkable Fairs and Festivals in Kerala. The place of Kalpathi which also is famed as Dakshin Kasi or the Varanasi of the South is the venue for the festival where the Sree Viswanatha Swamy temple us situated. The temple is flanked by thousands of devotees who enjoy the Vedic recitals and cultural programs for the first four days. The rituals are believed to be around 700 years old reflecting the serenity of the festival. The last three days are exciting with the chariots on the streets and thousands gathering to draw the decorated chariot and be a part of the mega event. The ceremonial procession is taken by a host of people which itself is a sight to enjoy.
Getting to the site of the festival is easier wit the railway route with the Palakkad railway station being just 3 kilometers from it.
The main attraction of the festival are the six magnificent chariots (three from the Viswanathaswamy Temple and three from the nearby temples of Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy, Lakshminarayana Perumal of Old Kalpathy, and Maha Ganapathy of Chathapuram) beautifully decorated with flowers, flags, sugarcane, coconuts etc are ceremoniously drawn through the streets by thousands of devotees. The procession is accompanied by caparisoned elephants and percussion. It is believed that pulling the chariots will wash off all the sins for a lot of generations. During the festival days Special poojas, Vedic recitals, and cultural programmes are held in the temple.
Three satellite temples of the Viswanathaswamy Temple in the villages of new Kalpathy, old Kalpathy and Chathapuram also celebrate this festival.
The annual chariot festival at the famous Viswanathaswamy Temple at Kalpathy is held in the month of November. Kalpathy is one of the ancient Brahmin Agraharam (traditional house). Also known as Kalpathy Ratholsavam or Kalpathy Theru festival, the festival is based on Vedic Tamil Brahmin culture which lasts for seven days.
The annual festival of Kalpathi Ratholsavam or the chariot festival is a mega event in the district of Palakkad in Kerala. The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is regarded as one of the most remarkable Fairs and Festivals in Kerala. The place of Kalpathi which also is famed as Dakshin Kasi or the Varanasi of the South is the venue for the festival where the Sree Viswanatha Swamy temple us situated. The temple is flanked by thousands of devotees who enjoy the Vedic recitals and cultural programs for the first four days. The rituals are believed to be around 700 years old reflecting the serenity of the festival. The last three days are exciting with the chariots on the streets and thousands gathering to draw the decorated chariot and be a part of the mega event. The ceremonial procession is taken by a host of people which itself is a sight to enjoy.
Getting to the site of the festival is easier wit the railway route with the Palakkad railway station being just 3 kilometers from it.
The main attraction of the festival are the six magnificent chariots (three from the Viswanathaswamy Temple and three from the nearby temples of Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy, Lakshminarayana Perumal of Old Kalpathy, and Maha Ganapathy of Chathapuram) beautifully decorated with flowers, flags, sugarcane, coconuts etc are ceremoniously drawn through the streets by thousands of devotees. The procession is accompanied by caparisoned elephants and percussion. It is believed that pulling the chariots will wash off all the sins for a lot of generations. During the festival days Special poojas, Vedic recitals, and cultural programmes are held in the temple.
Three satellite temples of the Viswanathaswamy Temple in the villages of new Kalpathy, old Kalpathy and Chathapuram also celebrate this festival.