Kerala tourism Guide

Kodungalloor Bharani is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the goddess and there is a popular belief that it was Lord Parasurama who started this festival under the direction of the goddess. The festival starts with the ritual Kozhikkallu modal which involves the sacrifice of a cock just outside the circumambulation of the temple. This ritual is conducted by the members of the Thacholi clan who are considered as the family members of Kodungalloor Bhagavathy which symbolizes the beginning of the Bharani festival. After this ceremony Venad flags are hoisted on a peepal tree which shows the relation between the Venad region and the temple. Kavu Theendal or the pollution ceremony is the most important event of the Bharani festival overseen by the King of Kodungallur where hundreds of vellichappads or oracles including women assemble at the temple. These oracles in their red attire charge around the temple in frenzy three times by beating the temple roof beam with sticks and hurl objects into the inner quadrangle. These oracles also perform a frenzied dance by slashing their foreheads with the curved swords as a supreme symbol of their devotion by making a sacrificial offering of their own blood to the deity. A grand procession or Ezhunnallathu with nine majestic caparisoned tuskers is held in the evening.