Vellayani Devi Temple is renowned for celebrating the longest non-Pilgrimage festival of South India and the duration of the festival is around 65 to 70 days. This festival is held every three years.
Deities
The temple enshrines Goddess Bhadrakali as the presiding deity. The deity, as per the scriptures is a form of Shiva's wrath. Goddess Kali is situated toward the north (vadakke nada). The idol is known in the local Malayalam language as Thirumudi.
Other deities worshipped at the Vellayani Devi temple called Upadevatha's temples include Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh and Nagaraja. The temple also has a small sub-temple where another deity Madan Thampuran is enshrined.
In the temple Antler is also worshipped. The circulating notion about this is that the antler serves as a medium to invoke the spirit of the divinity at a new-built temple. One of the antlers kept in the Sanctum sanctorum oriented towards the east is from the Thekkathu.
Kali - Darika Legend
Vellayani Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam
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.
Festival
Vellayani Devi Temple is renowned for celebrating the longest non-Pilgrimage festival of South India and the duration of the festival is around 65 to 70 days. This festival is held every three years, usually between February and April. The festival is known as the Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam, which literally means "the festival to sumptuously feed Devi".
Karadikottu
Karadikottu is the maiden custom related with the festival performed with a special drum. The performer is locally known as Panan.
Kalamkaval
Kalamkaval is a famous customs practiced at the temple premises and nearby places during festival. It is believed that the Goddess Bhadrakali searches her enemy demon, Daaruka in all directions before putting him to death.
Nagaroottu
Nagaroottu is the custom performed (before "Uchabali") for the satisfaction of Naga.
Uchabali
Uchabali is another custom performed during the festival. About sixty four gestures like in Kadhakali are used for the performance. Mathsyam, sampannam, chathurasramam, sarppamudra, and jyothimudra are some of the main gestures used.
Paranettu
It is believed that a fight erupted between Devi and the demon Darikan in sky. The fight is enacted on a specially erected stage, about 100 feet high and is conducted at night known as Paranettu.
Nilathilporu
Nilathilporu that marks the conclusion of the Kaaliyoottu festival at Vellayani Devi Temple.
Aaraattu
The festival, Kaliyoottu, ended with a grand procession knows as Aaraattu.
Aswathy Pongala
Pongala Festival at Vellayani Devi Temple is celebrated during the Malayalam month of Meenam on the Aswathy Nakshatram (Aswini Nakshatra).
Pooja timing
Every day, the temple opens at 5:30 pm and closes at 8:00 pm. On Sunday, Tuesday and Friday, the temple is also open from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm, during which a special Madhu Pooja is performed for the Goddess.
Address: Nemom, Vellayani, Kerala 695020
Phone: 0471 231 7983
