page_title: Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadeva Temple
section_title: Festivals
hierarchical_section_title: Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadeva Temple / Festivals
caption_attribution_description: മലയാളം: ചിറക്കടവ്‌ ശ്രീമഹാദേവക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ വേലകളി. English: A velakali performance at Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadeva Temple.
context_page_description: Chirakkadavu Mahadevar Temple is situated between the Kollam-Theni route of the National Highway 183, about 32 km east of the Akshra Nagari, Kottayam city and 3 km south of Ponkunnam en route to Manimala and Erumely.
context_section_description: In the past when there were no vehicles and when people used to walk to Sabarimala on pilgrimage, they would halt in this Chirakadavu Temple. The Ayyappa devotees considered Chirakadavu Sri Mahadeva as the father of Lord Ayyappan. So several Ayyappa Devotees visit this temple. Even the day every year on Dhanu 24th the pilgrims going to Sabarimala conduct "Ayyappan Pattu" in this temple as they had done in the past.
  The "Velakali" of Sri Mahadeva temple performed during the festival time is a very rare item. For this children between the age of five and twenty dressed up as warriors holding swords and shield dance according to the rhythmic beat on the drums. This 'Velathullal' dance is indeed a splendid sight.
  "Meenari" is a famous offering of this temple. During the 'Karkidaka Vavu' devotees buy rice from the temple and feed the fish in the temple pond. Many devotees rush to the temple to perform this special offering. People believe that those who perform this 'Vazhipadu' can get cured of many diseases.
  'Jaladhara and Mrithinjaya Pushpanjali' are also offered by several devotees to get cure the diseases. Likewise 'Swayamvara Pushpanjali' is offered by several youth irrespective of sex to get better marital relations. It is a very surprisingly experience that these offering turns very positive results.
  An important vazhipadu 'Chaturshatam' is performed in this temple which is a rare offering. Due to the traditional rituals followed and the income of the temple it occupies an important place in the Devaswom Board Temples. Also this is one of the very few self-sufficient temples of the [Travancore] Dewasom Board.
caption: A velakali performance at Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadeva Temple
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