Kollam
district has a number of pilgrim centres.
 The
temples dedicated to the Sastha at Achencoil, Aryankavu and
Kulathuppuzha are visited by a large number of pilgrims. The
festivals Therottam and Pushabhishekam of Achencoil Temple fall
duringDecember-January and
January-February respectively. The Mandala Pooja of Aryankavu
Temple, is in December and the Vishmahotsavam of Kulathuppuzha in
April. The Oachira Temple, dedicated to
Parabrahmam attract a large number of pilgrims, particularly during
the festival called Oachirakkali in June-July. |
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The Panthranduvilakku Mahotsavam (November-December) of this temple is also  very
famous Vishu Mahotsavam (April) of Sreekrishna Swami Temple,
Ashramam; Navarathri Mahotsavam (October) of Mahadeva Temple,
Anandavalleswaram; Utsavam (March) of Murari Temple Mukhathala,
Utsavam of Mahadeva Temple Thrikkadavur and Bahgavathi Temple
Kottamkulangara; Sivarathri festival (March) of Siva Temple,
Chittadeeswaram, Festival (September-October) of Veera Bhadra Nada,
Ashtamudi; Kuruthi Mahotsavam (January) of Ammachiveetil Moorthi
Temple, Kacherimukku, Sivarathri Mahotsavam (March) of Kashi
Viswanathan at Cheriazeekkal (Karunagappally Taluk) Thiruvathira
Mahotsavam (April) of Shri Mahaganpati Temple, Kottarakkara are some
of the important festivals connected with temples. The Ashtami
Rohini festival at Vadayattukotta Sreekrishna Temple also attracts
huge crowds from neighbouring places. |
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In addition to these temples, there are Churches and Mosques which have their own festival attractinghuge crowds, irrespective of their religious affiliation. Some of the important churches are St. Casimir's Church, Kadavur; Velankanni Matha Shrine, Tuyyam; Infant Jesus Shrine, Vadi; St. Joseph Shrine, Perinad; St. Francis Church, Koduvila (Kallada); Amalotbhava Matha Church, Pullichira (Kottiyam), St. John Britto Church, Sakthikulangara; St. Sebastians Church, Neendakara; St. Thomas C.S.I. Church, Pattathanam and St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Sastri Junction. Valiyapalli, Jonakappuram, Juma-Ath-Palli, Kolluvila; Juma-Ath-Masjid, Thattamala; Muslim Juma-Ath-Palli, Karuva; Kalamala Palli, Kalamala; Muthirapparambu Palli, Muthirapparambu and Siyavathummodu Palli, Kililolloor are the most important mosques. |
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FESTIVALS |
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| In
addition to the traditional past times like Kathakali, Koothu,
Ottamthullal, Pattakam, Harikatha, Kaikottikkali, Thiruvathirakkali,
Kolattam etc., there are certain amusements and festivities which
are unique to Kollam district. They are held in connection with
festivals in temples. The mock swork-fight - Oachirakkali, is one of
the most important of such festivals. Oachira has been famous for
long as one of the sacred places of Kerala. Historically too this
place is very famous, for, it was on the plains of Oachira that the
much famed battle in the history of Travancore, the battle of
Kayamkulam, was fought between Marthandavarma, the Maharaja of
Travancore and the Raja of Kayamkulam. In commemoration of this
historic battle Ochirakkali is conducted on the first and second of
Mithunam (June-July) every year. On this occasion, the young and the
old, drawn from the two Karas lying east and west of Oachira, from
themselves into two groups, reach the Padanilam (the place for
fighting) and conduct the age-old fencing exercise under the
leadership of the elder kalari asan. In Kottamkulangara Temple in Chavara, there is a peculiar custom of men dressing up as women and carry lighted lamps(Thalappoli). The Uriati is a typical festival associated with Krishna Temple. The annual Uriati festival held at Vadayattukotta temple in connection with Ashtami Rohini deserves mention. The Kettukazhcha (exhibition of effigies) festival held at Mahadevar Temple, Thrikkadavur in February-March every year is one of the colorful festival of the district. There are similar festivals in the temples of Sasthamcotta, Velinallur, Chathannur, Chirakkara etc. |
