Page 55 - Grasshopper Magazine
P. 55

The ten-day festival kick starts   that takes place at Kottangkulangara
                                            with hoisting of ceremonial flag   Devi Temple in Kollam district from
                                            which is followed by placement of   March 24 to March 25.
                                            fiber glass figures of the Pandavas at   In the Kottangkulangara
                                            the eastern entrance of the temple to   Chamayavilakku festival, masculine
                                            propitiate God of Rain India.   dons the feminine. One should
                                              On the ninth day of the       witness this unique festival once in
                                            festival, palli vetta (royal hunt)   their life. The visitors are welcomed
                                            ritual is performed by head of   by a group of beautiful ladies. To
                                            the Travancore Royal Family near   your surprise, those are not ladies
                                            Vettakorumakam Temple in Fort   but are actually men dressed up in
                                            area. The festival concludes with   women’s attire which is a part of a
                                            immersion of idols in the sea known   special ritual of the festival.
                                            as the aarattu procession. The male   The highlight of Kottangkulangara
                                            members of the Royal Family of   Chamayavilakku festival is the
                                            Travancore escort the procession.  procession that takes place at night
                                                                            when men turned women walk
                                             How to reach                   to the temple accompanied by
                                               The temple is situated       traditional orchestra.
                                             at a distance of 1 km from
                                             Thiruvananthapuram Central      How to reach
                                             railway station. The nearest airport   The  temple is  situated  at  a
                                             is Trivandrum International     distance of 13 km from Kollam
                                             Airport which is 6 km away from   railway station. The nearest airport
                                             East fort.                      is Trivandrum International
                                                                             Airport which is 71 km away
                                            Kottangkulangara                 from Kollam.
                                            Chamayavilakku
                                             The Kottangkulangara  Peruvanam Pooram
                                            Chamayavilakku is a unique festival   The Peruvanam Pooram festival
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