Travel | Kodungalur Bharani 2015 | Kerala | India

Imagine a scene where thousands of sword wielding oracles both men and women called velichappads wearing vermilion costumes, swarming a temple premise. The festival usually falls in the Malayalam month of meenam (roughly March/April) every year.

The legendary Bharani festival is noted for the spectacular event called kaavu theendal in which oracles; both men and women from different parts of the State arrive at Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple. The oracles run in a trance around the temple and smite their crown with a sword, proclaiming their communion with the Mother Goddess. Meanwhile, the devotees strike the temple rafters with sticks and hurl offerings over the roof and onto the inner quadrangle.

Every year, pilgrims and curious visitors come to attend this seven-day annual festival at the Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple. Following the festival, the temple would remain closed for a week. The doors will open after the purification rituals are performed to clean the stains of kavu theendal.