Sun Mar 23 13:53:06 UTC 2025: ## Thousands Expected at Kottankulangara Temple’s Unique Chamayavilakku Festival
**Kollam, March 24, 2025** – The Kottankulangara Sri Bhagavathy Temple in Chavara is gearing up for its annual Chamayavilakku festival, a unique ritual expected to draw around 10,000 devotees on March 24th and 25th. Temple officials announced this at a press meet on Sunday.
The festival’s highlight is the Chamayavilakku ritual, where men dressed as women offer prayers, carrying traditional five-wick lamps. Due to a shortage of these lamps, the temple committee will provide rentals this year, ensuring participation isn’t hindered. Devotees are however advised to bring their own lamps if possible, as per the recent ‘Devaprasnam’ ritual. Traditional and modest attire is mandatory.
The two-day event begins at 3 a.m. each day with a procession and concludes with the deity’s rest under a coconut palm leaf canopy. The festival’s hosting rotates between local communities. Temple officials emphasized the temple’s unique customs, including the special canopy and the ‘kottan’ coconut offering, setting it apart from other temples.
First Piper 