Held on the Karthika day of Meenam, the Vadakkupurathu Pattu is traditionally performed in the temple's northern courtyard, accompanied by special rituals and guruthi offerings.
Published Mar 31, 2025 | 1:39 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 31, 2025 | 1:39 PM
The 12-day-long ritualistic art and song performance, is held once every 12 years to appease Goddess Bhadrakali.
Synopsis: The Travancore Devaswom Board has decided to do away with the caste-based restrictions placed on women devotees to participate in the duodecennial Vadakkupurathu Pattu ritual.
Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Vaikom Satyagraha, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has made a historic decision to abolish caste-based restrictions on women participating in the Vadakkupurathu Pattu ritual of the Mahadeva Temple at Vaikom in the Kottayam district.
Vadakkupurathu Pattu is a 12-day duodecennial Kalamezhuthu Pattu (ritualistic art and song) event held in the Malayalam month of Meenam to appease Goddess Bhadrakali. The event will take place from 2 to 13 April this year.
Held on the Karthika day of Meenam, the ceremony is traditionally performed in the temple’s northern courtyard, accompanied by special rituals and guruthi offerings.
Open to all
For the first time, all women devotees who have observed the required fast (vratham) will be allowed to hold the ceremonial lamp (vilakku), regardless of caste.
Vadakkupurathu Pattu is a 12-day duodecennial Kalamezhuthu Pattu (ritualistic art and song) event held in the Malayalam month of Meenam
According to the TDB, arrangements will be made to accommodate all eligible devotees alongside those officially listed by the Vadakkupurathu Pattu Samithi.
Participants are required to bring their own kuthu vilakku.
Acknowledging space constraints, the board has urged devotees to cooperate with temple authorities and police.
It is learnt that the TDB felt denying participation to fasting women devotees in a ritual that occurs only once in 12 years is unjustifiable.
