Kalpathi Chariot Festival - Kerala’s Largest Temple Festival

The state of Kerala does not need any introduction, nor does its tourism industry require any hard selling. Its stunning landscapes, rejuvenating spas and mouthwatering cuisine speak for themselves. However, if you have been toying with the idea of visiting God’s Own Country and need an extra nudge in the direction, here’s a perfect shove – the famous Kalpathi Rathotsavam or Kalpathi Chariot Festival is all set to take place in November. This week-long event is one of Kerala’s largest temple festivals and displays the Malayali traditional and cultural heritage most splendidly.

A Sacred Temple & A Sea Of Devotees

If you’re having a hard time imagining what a chariot festival is like, think of Puri’s famous Jagannath Yatra, for this is a similar spectacle and attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees. Popularly known as Dakshin Kashi or the Kashi (Varanasi) of the south, Kalpathi is home to the ancient Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple and is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati (known as Visalakshi here). The temple stands on the banks of the Kalpathi or Nila River and plays host to the annual chariot festival. With several other ancient temples in the vicinity, Kalpathi village in Palakkad district of Kerala is well known to Hindu devotees and pilgrims. While the place attracts visitors all year round, the village is brimming at the time of the temple’s chariot festival.

A Magnificent Procession

During the Kalpathi Rathotsavam, the first few days are spent in holy rituals with devotees performing prayers and making offerings to the deities. Vedic chants ring in the air, adding to the spiritual and pious feel of the place. There are also several cultural programmes and classical music concerts during the day to keep devotees and other visitors occupied and entertained. The last three days, however, are the main highlight of the event – the time when the beautiful temple chariots are taken out in large processions. With beautiful carvings and elaborate decorations, the chariots carrying the temple deities are pulled by devotees in grand processions through Kalpathi’s streets. The first day sees the chariots of Lord Shiva and his sons Ganpati and Kartik pulled through the streets; the ceremony begins early in the morning and the chariots return to the temple only at sunset. Day two and three see similar processions with deities from the Old Ganpathy Temple and the Chathapuram Temple. The festival ends when all the different chariots come together in one grand procession.

Combine any visit to Kerala with a visit to Kalpathi to make your holiday experience even more special. The village of Kalpathi can be reached from Palakkad, which is the nearest town. The nearest airport is at Coimbatore. For flight and hotel bookings log on to MakeMyTrip.com.