Kottankulangara Devi Temple

This is one of the famous temples in kerala. The major event happening here every year is a ritual called "chamayavilak" means male will transform into females and appear at the temple. This is done for getting something they wish. This ritual is happening every year at the time of march or April. Must visit place❤️

It is a nice temple near national highway, which have a lot of stories to tell about its rituals and cultural believes. This temple is famous for the festival chamayavilakku which is held annually during end of March ( mostly in 24th and 25th ). Chamayavilakku is a great festival where hundreds of men put makeup and transforms into female as a part of Temple rituals. Chamayavilakku is the festival where handsome turns into beauty, which is a wonderful scene for our eyes.

Keralas Kollam District Chavara Panchayat near ‎National highway 47 Kottamkulangara Devi Temple. One of the famous temples in Kollam district.
The Chamayavilak Mahotsavam is held every year in the month of March at the kottamkulangaraDevi temple. Lamps are lit in this temple by men dressed in women's clothing.
Kottamkulangara devi temple famous festival is in the Chamayavilakku mahothavam.

Very Spiritual and Devotional temple to visit.
Godess Sree Maa Kali's blessing to all🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Kottankulangara Devi temple is located at Chavara in kollam district in Kerala. The famous Chamayavilakku is a unique festival where thousands of men dressed up as women offered prayers to the Goddess Bhagavathy.The deity here is believed as 'Swayam Bhoo'(Self Origin). This famous temple is the only temple in Kerala having no roof the sanctorum. The uniqueness of this temple is that the boys and girls dress themselves as girls and ladies to hold the traditional temple lamp .The men dress up in the female attire of their choice. Some wear Set saari, Pattu saari, half saari or even dance costumes. .Every year this festival is celebrated on the 10th and 11th day of the Malayalam Meenam Maasam - March 9 and will end on March 25.

One of the famous temples in kerala.
Large pond
Main dieties are durga sasta
Nagas and ganapathy
Famous for the ritual associated with the orgin story of temple.
Males dressed in female attire take lamps in front of goddess occurs in march.
Two entrances one in east side and one from north
Parking is in east side
A temple stage and banyan tree is there

Devi temple is placed in chavara, Very closed to NH 46.Kottankulangara Devi Temple is a very ancient and holy center where thousands of believers derive mental condolence and peace of mind to tide over the miseries of life. he plot of land where the temple is situated at present was an attractive place full of natural beauty resembling the serene outlook of the forest. The thick growth of trees and plants and creepers always gave the quietness of mental tranquillity. On the northwest corner of the plot there existed a small deep pond known as Bhoothakulam. People believed that this place was a comfortable shelter for poisonous snakes. On the eastern side there was a huge extensive deep pond. During the days of rain, a stream originated from here and it would make the Kareelil Padom fertile and cultivable. As this place was full of thick growth of grass and pure water the teenagers of the neighbouring places used to assemble here with their cattle.One day the cowboys got a coconut from this place. They found a stone on the southern part of Bhoothakulam. When they hit the coconut on the stone (with the intension of removing the husk), they all got alarmed and frightened as they found drops of blood dripping from the stone. They explained the wonderful phenomena to the elders. The astrologer suggested that the stone contained the supernatural powers of VANADURGA and poojas should be started immediately after constructing a temple. The elders and cowboys cooperated and constructed a temporary temple using poles, leaves and tender leaves of coconut palm. It was a custom in ancient days that BALIKAS used to prepare flower garlands, lit the pooja lamps in ancient Kudumba temples. Accepting this tradition, the cowboys wearing the dresses of women and girls, offered poojas in the temple. The milky liquid prepared from coconut kernel was boiled, the medicinal oil (Urukku Velichenna) extracted and solid substance taken (Kottan) was offered to the goddess as Naivedyam. The poojas continued without any break.The temple which originated on the banks of the pond with Kottan as the first Naivedyam come to be known as Kottankulangara Temple. The annual temple ceremony comes toward the end of March every year. In order to commemorate the legend and origin of the temple, the model of the ancient temple is being constructed every year. The devotees stand long lines from Kunjalummoodu to Arattukadavu at the time of the Devi’s journey from Kunjalummoodu. Seeing this spiritual procession, the devotees derive unlimited amount of spiritual joy and believe this sight would help them all to have comfort and mental pleasure and redressed from the unforeseen miseries of life.

The famous Chamayavilakku is a unique festival which is held at the Kottankulangara Sree Devi Temple, Chavara near Kollam, Kerala where thousands of men irrespective of their religious faith dressed up as women offered prayers to the Goddess Bhagavathy, the deity of the Temple which is believed as 'Swayam Bhoo'(Self Origin). This famous temple is the only temple in Kerala having no roof the sanctum sanctorum. The uniqueness of this temple is that the boys and girls dress themselves as girls and ladies to hold the traditional temple lamp.