The Chettikulangara temple situated in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district is renowned for its annual Bharani festival. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. The festival begins on the Bharani asterism in the Malayalam month of Kumbam).
The main rituals of the festival are kuthiyottam and kettu kazhcha. Kuthiyottam features circumambulation of young boys who have observed rigorous ritual penance. Kettukazhcha (kettu means ‘put together’ and kazhcha means ‘spectacle’). Effigies of 100 ft high bulls are built and are brought to the temple, accompanied by musicians playing the chenda (traditional percussion) and Ila Thaalam (cymbals). The bull effigies circumambulate the temple and later take positions on one side of the temple.
