Garudan Thookkam is a ritual art form performed in certain Kali temples in some Central Kerala districts in south India. The people who dress up as Garuda perform the dance. After the dance performance, the hang-designate dangle from a shaft hooking the skin on his back. In some places, the ritual is performed colorfully with Garudas taken in a procession on bullock carts or boats or hand pulled carts. It will be available in Devi temple during the festival of Meena bharani and Pathamudayam in Thiruvanchoor in Kottayam district.
Legend has it that even after slaying Darika, Kali remained insatiable and thirsty. At this time Vishnu sent Garuda to Kali to quench the thirst. A dancing and bleeding Garuda was taken to Kali and only after getting some drops of blood from Garuda, Kali was pacified. The ritual is performed based on this belief.
Garudan Thookam is submitted as a reward for the problems solved in the abode of Goddess Kali. There is a famous Garudan Thookam at the Elamkavu Devi temple at Vadayar in Vaikkom taluk of Kottayam district. During the Aswathi, Bharani days of Meenam Month (Malayalam), more than 40 to 50 Garudan in the Thooka chadus, decorated and floated in thoni[check spelling] vallams (big country-boats), travel behind the Attuvela - a wooden structure constructed in the form of a three storied building which is considered as the floating temple of the Goddess Kali in the Moovattupuzha river. This is one of the best sights, with illuminated Structures. After the night long performance with the help of scores of chenda experts, the Garudans - bleeding after the Choondakuthal (Piercing of the skin on their back with a sharp metal hook) will be hung on a tall pedestal-like structure and taken thrice around the temple by the devotees. This is seen at the Pazhaveedu temple at Alappuzha district. But here the performance is done on a chariot-like structure on the road.
This ritual is performed at Pallikkalkavu Bhagavathi temple (Njeezhoor, Kottayam (Dist)) on Makara Bharani day. This ritual was performed at Koottekkavu Bhagavathy temple (Amballoor,Ernakulam Dist) on Meenabharani. Arayankavu Bhagavathi temple Ernakulam dist (on Pooram, Meenam) and Irapuram Devi temple near perumbavoor (on Kumbha Bharani day) has the highest number of garduan thookkam in Kerala. More than 100 Garudan performers perform in these temples every year. Arayankavu Bhagavathy temple holds the world record for presenting the largest performance of Garudan thookkam.
Garudanthoookam is also performed in Polassery Bhagavathi temple in [Polassery, vaikom] in Kottayam district on meenabharani . Garudanthookam is performed in this temple in every year.
Theyyam is a Hindu religious ritual practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and customs associated with temples and sacred groves of Malabar. The people of the region consider Theyyam itself as a channel to a god and they thus seek blessings from Theyyam.
Arayankavu is a village in Kerala, south India with Piravam Road as the nearest railway station. It belongs to the Amballoor Village Panchayath. The Arayankavu Temple is a famous temple of the Hindu mother goddess Bhadrakali. The temple is located near Ernakulam in the southern Indian state of Kerala and is one of the most popular temples in the state, for "Garudan Thookkam" performed on every "Pooram" of the Malayalam month "Meenam". Shiva, ayyappa, and naga are also worshiped at the temple. Pooram is the most famous celebration.
The ChottanikkaraDevi Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavati Lakshmi. She is believed to be residing in Chottanikkara (Mahalakshmi) along with her Husband Maha Vishnu. The main deity is also considered as Lakshmi Narayana according to the temple legend. The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of the city of Kochi in Ernakulam district, in the state of Kerala, India and is one of the most popular temples in the state. The temple is also known for conducting exorcism.
Bhadrakali is a Hindu goddess. She is considered to be the auspicious and fortunate form of Adi Shakti who protects the good, known as bhadra.
Piravom is a municipality in Ernakulam district and a suburb of Kochi in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located with in 31 km southeast of Kochi city center, at the boundary of the Ernakulam and Kottayam districts. Piravom is famous for its Hindu temples and Christian churches. Piravom has a river-front, verdant hills, and paddy fields.
Mudiyettu is a traditional ritual theatre and folk dance drama from Kerala that enacts the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika. The ritual is a part of the bhagavathi or bhadrakali cult. The dance is performed in bhadrakali temples, the temples of the Mother Goddess, between February and May after the harvesting season.
Pallickathodu, also spelled Pallikkathodu which includes Anickadu village, is a town in eastern Kottayam district, Kerala, India. It falls under the Kanjirappally assembly constituency.
Vallicode is a village in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India. It is situated at about 7 km from the district headquarters of Pathanamthitta at south-east direction.
Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in Kerala. Main deity is Sree Bhadrakali. The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. The temple is situated about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Mavelikkara town, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Kayamkulam city on SH6. Bhadrakali, is an incarnation of supreme mother Shakthi devi, born from the third eye of Lord Shiva, to kill the demon king Daruka. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is worshipped for prosperity and salvation. Devi is considered as the creator, protector, destructor, nature, power and Kundalini shakthi. Chettikulangara is located near Kayamkulam city.
Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram is a 300-year-old Hindu temple on the banks of the Achankovil river in Vazhamuttom, Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. The Devi (goddess) is the main deity here. The centuries-old temple was fully reconstructed in 2020.
Panachikkad is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.
Morkulangara Devi Temple is a famous Hindu temple in the Kottayam District of Kerala state in India. The presiding deity is Bhagavathy. The prime feature of this temple is the deity having a height of more than 6 feet. It is believed that the Devi in Morkulangara temple placed in this place after killing the demon Darika.
Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali or simply Durga or Aadi Parashakthi worshipped and significantly revered in Kerala. The goddess is known also by the names "Sri Kurumba"". This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala. This Mahakali temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. This is attested by numerous Tamil poems and inscriptions of different times. The goddess of the temple represents the goddess in her fierce ('ugra') form, facing North, featuring eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the demon king Daruka, another a sickle-shaped sword, next an anklet, another a bell, among others. Routine worship at the temple every day at 03:00 and ends at 21:00 local time.
Valiyakulangara is a small town in alappuzha district in Kerala, India. Valiyakulangara Devi Temple
Padayani, also known Padeni, is a traditional folk dance and a ritual art from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples. The dance is performed in honor of Bhadrakaali. Meaning, a 'row of warriors', Padayani is an art form that blends all music, dance, theatre, satire, facial masks, and paintings. It is part of worship of Bhadrakali and is staged in temples dedicated to the goddess from mid-December to mid-May. Padayani is unique to central Travancore, comprising the Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts of Kerala. It is also performed in adjoining regions of Kollam, Alappuzha districts.
Orippurathu Bhagavathy Temple (Malayalam: ഒരിപ്പുറത്തു ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം) is a 1200 year old ancient Hindu temple in Thattayil, near Adoor in Pathanamthitta in Kerala. It is one of the most famous Bhagavathi temples in Central Travancore. The main deity of the temple is Goddess Kali. Sub deities include Lord Ganesha, Lord Krishna, Naga Rajav, Naga Yakshi, Rekshassu, Yogeeshwaran, Yakshi Amma and Madan Swamy. Orippurathu Bhagavathi Temple is situated at about 7 km from Pandalam and 12 km from Pathanamthitta. It is located at 2 km from National Highway 183A.
Paippad Puthenkavu Bhagavathi Temple is an ancient Bhagavathi shrine located at Paippad, Changanacherry, in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It is situated at Paippad, on Changanacherry – Kaviyoor road and 5 km away from Changanacherry. Annual festival is celebrated on Bharani day of Meenam Month. The procession named Kalamezuthu & Pattu is one of the most important among the celebrations of the nearby temples. Makarabharani Pongala is a significant offering to the goddess of this temple.
Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani is a festival celebrated every year at the Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Chettikulangara, Alappuzha district, Kerala. It is held in the month of February or March, the date being determined according to the Malayalam Calendar. Chettikulangara Bharani in the Bharani nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Kumbha and hence the name Kumbha Bharani. Kuthiyottam and Kettukazhcha are the highlights of the festival. The festival is under consideration to be bestowed with the Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO.
This is a list of ancient Buddhist sites, relics, traditions and places from the Indian state of Kerala. Even though Kerala does not have any major presence of Buddhists in modern times, many historians recognize a Buddhist heritage that seem to have existed until the 10th century CE along with a widespread Sramana tradition of co-existence between Buddhism, Jainism and ancient Dravidian folk religion.
Kodungallur Bharani festival is a yearly festival dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali of Kodungallur Kurumba Bhagavathy temple held between the Bharani days of months Kumbham and Meenam of the Malayalam calendar. This period usually falls between the months of March and April in Roman calendar. This festival traditionally involves sacrifice of roosters, dance of oracles, lighting the traditional lamp, singing of libelous ballads (Bharanippattu) and smearing of the image of the goddess with sandalwood paste.
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