Kalpathi Ratholsavam

Kalpathi Ratholsavam, also called as Kalpathi Chariot Festival is an annual Hindu Festival celebrated mainly in the Kalpathi village in the state of Kerala. The festival is celebrated at the Sri Visalakshi Sametha Sri Viswanatha Swamy temple dedicated towards Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi.

The Chariot Festival is celebrated every year in the month of November. It is a ten day event. Over the years the festival celebrations have gained immense popularity in the state of Kerala.

The celebrations at the festival includes Vedic recitals and cultural programs for the first four days and through the last three days Chariots for the Lord are decorated by devotees. Devotees from all across India gather here during the Festival.

According t the Legends the Festival is traced to be about 700 years old. The temple of Sri Visalakshi Sametha Sri Viswanatha Swamy dates back to 1425 A.D. The temple is known to be the oldest Siva temple in Malabar. It is situated at the Southern bank of river Neela Bhagirathi.

The annual Chariot Festival is a tribute to the Indian culture and traditions that has been well preserved by the people of Kerala. The Festival is a must watch spectacle, and even the weather of the place during the time of Festival is absolutely favorable.

How to Reach?

• Nearest town: Palakkad - 3 km
• Nearest railway station: Olavakot - 1 km
• Nearest airport: Coimbatore - 55 km

Koratty Muthy's Feast Festival

Koratty Muthy's (St Mary's) Forane church at Koratty is one of the most important Marian Pilgrim Centre in India after Velankanni. The Church is located in a beautiful, scenaric village of Koratty (Named after the church) in Thrissur district. 

The Annual Grand Feast organized at the Koratty Muthy’s church is a very significant and mega event to miss. The Festival is celebrated with great number of rituals and is a rich and spectacular ceremony attended by thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.

The Feast is an annual event organized in the second week of October every year. In the year 2009, it will be celebrated on 11th October’09. Koratty Muthy is actually a local interpretation of Virgin Mary, to whom the festival is dedicated.

Apart from the traditional and customary rituals, there are many cultural activities and programs organized throughout the Feast. Although any and every devotee attends the feast the main attendants to the Feast includes the Ill and the Infirm, Distressed Damsels yearning for their partners in life, Parents longing for children etc.

The Church of Koratty Muthy is extremely popular amidst its devotees and people from all sects and castes participate in the annual Feast. Not only during the feast days but all through the year Church is full of devotees thronging to seek the blessings of Mother Mary.

How to Reach?

Chalakkudy lies on the Kochi-Thrissur route.

Nearest Railway Station: Chalakkudy, about 7 km away.

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 24 km from Chalakkudy.