The undeniable crescendo of Kalpathy festival is the convergence of chariots. The largest chariot carries Lord Shiva, the primary deity of the Vishwanathaswamy Temple, along with his consort, Goddess Parvathy. Flanking them in smaller, equally ornate chariots are their sons, Lord Ganesha and Lord Subrahmanya.
The air in Palakkad, Kerala, grows thick with anticipation as the Malayalam month of Thulaam arrives. Along the tranquil banks of the Kalpathy River, five quaint villages - Old Kalpathy, New Kalpathy, Chathapuram, Govindarajapuram and Manthakkara - begin their month-long transformation. This is the prelude to the world-renowned Kalpathy Ratholsavam, a spectacular 10-day festival of faith, heritage and cultural confluence that draws a global audience.
Often simply called Kalpathy Theyru (Kalpathy Chariot), this festival holds the remarkable distinction of being the second-biggest of its kind in Indi, surpassed only by the grand Car Festival at the Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa. It is more than just a religious observance ; it is quite literally a cultural festival of Palakkad, a vibrant showcase of the region's unique identity.
My take
A truly spectacular and colourful festival!
Tailpiece.
Got up at 5, sent all the messages, switched on the hymns on the home theatre, lit up the lamp in the puja room and opened up the house for the day.
Walked on the road in front of our house; recited my prayers.
Breakfast. Had bath subsequently after working on my laptop.
Lunch, watched Crime Patrol on television followed by siesta.
A quiet evening.
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