Kodungallur Bharani | 2018
The annual festival at the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple situated at Kodungalloor is famous across Kerala and is known as the Kodungalloor Bharani. It takes place during the Malayalam month of Meenam. A sea of red overruns the premises as a flurry of oracles (velichappad) dancing in a trance offer their prayers to the deity. It is a mystical experience for all who have a chance to view it. The devotion of the believers as they dance along with the oracles with spiritual euphoria is a truly riveting sight. Oracles, both men and women, dash around the temple and smite their heads with their swords, proclaiming their communion with the Mother Goddess. The devotees strike the temple rafters with sticks and hurl offerings over the roof and on to the inner quadrangle. The Bharani festival celebrates the birth of Bhadrakali (Hindu Goddess) who as per legend was born from the third eye of Lord Shiva and was the one who went to finish off the demon Darika. This is an important festival.