Kothankulangara Temple, Chavara , kollam

Kothankulangara   Temple, Chavara  , kollam

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

   This is a very unique temple in Kerala because   during the festival here Boys dressed  as  girls prepare   and offer  the offering to the Goddess

  It seems once upon a time  it this area was covered   with a forest and on one corner of the forest there  was a pond clled   , Bootham kulam.One day some cpwherds   who came here   got an unhusked coconut   and   they try to break it open on a stone  near the pond ..To their surpise  they saw  blood oozing  out of the stone  . nThey went and informed their elders   , who consulted astrologers. The Prasnam revealed that  it was a goddess  Vana durga .They immediately  built a thatched   shed   for the Goddess. Since they  had to make  a garland for the goddess   and no girls were  available  there, the cowherds dressed  like girls, made   garlands   and offered it to the Goddess  , They  boiled   the coconut flesh  and extracted  a solid substance  called  “Kottan” from it.This  was offered to the Goddess .So they started calling  Bhootham Kulam as Kottam kulam and the Goddess  asa Kottm kulangara  Amma.

FESTIVAL

The Kottankulangara Festival is an annual Hindu festival in Kerala, India in which thousands of men dress as women. This is is done normally   as a thanks given by devotees  to the goiddess  who fulfills all their wants

Festival  iscalled  Chamaya vilakku (make up lamp  ) and   is celeberated  in the month of march  . In this unique ritual called ‘Chamayavilakku’, the men dressed  as  ‘Damsels’ come to the temple at night in a long procession with lighted lamp in their hands. The men dress up in the female attire of their choice. Some wear Set saari, Pattu saari, half saari or even dance costumes. The two day festival attracts thousands of devotees throughout the State. Believers from other States are also participating in this famous festival. Recently several foreigners are also attending this famous traditional festival. On the festival days   thousand of Devotees visit the Temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess Bhagavathy.

. HOW TO REACH

Kottankulangara temple, where the Chamayavilakku is held, is besides NH-4. It’s relatively easy to get there. The best way to reach here is by bus, as almost all of the bus to Kollam & Trivandrum, pass in front of the temple. Kottankulangara is situated in between two cities Kollam & Karunagappally.

From Karunagappally, There are throughout buses from Karunagappally to Kollam. So if you are staying at Karunagappally, catch a bus to Kollam and get down at the point “Kottankulangara”. Catching “Fast Passenger” Buses, which is frequently available, will be the best option to travel.

From Kollam, Same like from Karunagappally, there are through out buses from Kollam to Karunagappally. So if you are staying at Kollam, catch a bus to Karunagappally and get down at the point “Kottankulangara”. From here also, Catching “Fast Passenger” Buses, which is frequently available, will be the best option to travel.

By Train: Nearest station is Kaunagapally. But most of the train don’t have stop here. So better to reach Kollam.

Figures:
Nearest Railway station – Kollam (Station Code: QLN) – 13Kms
Nearest Bus Station(District HQ) – Kollam – 12Kms
Nearest Airport – Trivandrum – 80 Kms.

Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple - Wikipedia

 Sree Kottankulangara Devi Temple,
Kottankulangara, Chavara
Kollam, Kerala – 691 583.

Email: 

Contact Person: The Secretary, Temple Committee.