The Vellayani Devi is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. The shrine is situated in Vellayani 1.5 km west of Vellayani junction, 12 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram on the eastern bank of Vellayani Lake. The temple is under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board.
About Vellayani Devi Temple Festivals
Karadikottu is the maiden custom related with the festival performed with a special drum.
Kalamkaval is a famous customs practiced at the temple premises and nearby places during festival.
Nagaroottu is the custom performed (before "Uchabali") for the satisfaction of Naga.
Uchabali is another custom performed during the festival. Uchabali is performed during midnight.
It is believed that a fight erupted between Devi and the demon Darikan in sky. And is conducted at night.
Nilathilporu that marks the conclusion of the Kaaliyoottu festival at Vellayani Devi Temple.
The festival is known as the Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam, which literally means "the festival to sumptuously feed Devi".
Pongala Festival at Vellayani Devi Temple is celebrated during the Malayalam month of Meenam on the Aswathy Nakshatram.
The festival, Kaliyoottu, ended with a grand procession knows as Aaraattu.
Darika was a demon who received a boon from Brahma which granted that he would never be defeated by any man living in any of the fourteen worlds of Hindu mythology. This made Darika immensely powerful and arrogant. Armed with this boon, Darika went on to conquer the world, defeating even Indra, the king of the gods. As his atrocities became intolerable, the sage Narada requested Shiva to contain Darika. Shiva agreed, circumventing Brahma’s boon by declaring that Darika would be killed by the goddess Kali. Shiva opened his third eye and produced Kali, whose purpose was to destroy Darika. Goddess being a woman and one not born among the humans. Goddess did so by beheading him. Goddess didn’t stop with Darika and, unable to control her rage, began destroying the landscape and the very humans for whose sake she had destroyed Darika. The Gods could not defeat her, and she was finally calmed when Shiva lay on the ground in front of her, submitting.
About Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam
The Vellayani Devi is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. The shrine is situated in Vellayani 1.5 km west of Vellayani junction, 12 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram on the eastern bank of Vellayani Lake.
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