Kalpathy Ratholsavam is the annual chariot festival of the famous temple Viswanatha Swamy temple located in Kalpathy village of Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It is a week long festival celebrated every year in the month of November. The last three days are observed as the important days as the chariot procession is taken out on this days. This year (2009) Kalpathy Ratholsavam is celebrated on 13th, 14th and 15th of November 2009. This article explores few fascinations of the festival.

The Temple and Its Glory:

Kalpathy Viswanatha Swamy temple is also known as Sri Visalakshi Sametha Sri Viswanatha Swamy temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Siva who is known as ‘Viswanatha’ and his consort Parvathi who is known as ‘Visalakshi’ here.

The temple is about 3 kms from Palakkad and about 55 kms from Coimbatore airport. The temple is well connected by rails. Olavokot railway station is just 1 km from the temple.

The Kalpathy Vishwanatha Swamy temple is considered as the oldest Shiva temple in Malabar and in Kerala. It is said that the temple was built in 1425 AD by Kombi Achan, then King of Palakkad. This beautiful temple nestles by the banks of the Kalpathy river, also called Neela Nadhi, just as Kasi is on the banks of the Ganges. Many other deities are consecrated in the temple. Deities of Valli Devayani Sametha Subramanya Swamy, Vinayaka, Gangadhara, dakshinayana Murthy, Nataraja, Surya Bhavara, Simhanasundari, Kala Bhairavan, Nandeeswaran, Chandikeswaran, and Pradesh Handi are beautifully decorated in the temple.

The Legend:

The story of the temple dates back in fifteenth century. There lived a Brahmin widow named Lakshmiammal who went to Benaras and brought a Shiva Linga. She installed it in the present site which was the Southern bank of the river Neela Bhagirathi. She brought 1320 gold coins from Kasi and gave it to Itikombi Achan, who was a prince of Palakkad Royal family. She requested him to build the temple of Siva so that the devotees who visit this temple get the credit equivalent to half of a visit to Kasi and Banaras. Seeing her peity and devotion, the King Kombi Achan took all the pains and constucted the holy shrine dedicated to the devotees of Lord Shiva.

The Celebrations:

Kalpathy Ratholsavam is one of the most remarkable festivals of Kerala. In the first four days vedic rituals and poojas are done. Several cultural programmes are held in the temple. On the auspicious day, which is 28th day of Alpasi, the deities are taken out and are installed in the chariot. There are three chariots that are decorated beautifully: One for the main deity Sri Vishwanath Swamy and Goddess Visalakshi, the second for Visweswara and third for Lord Subramanya Swamy.

On this three days the chariots are ceremoniously drawn through the streets. These magnificent, intricately carved chariots look beautiful. They are bedecked with flowers and flags.

Thousands of devotees throng the site whose soul stirring chants rent the air. The chariots gorify the Lordships to full extent. Vedic scholars and Brahmins recite vedic chants sonorously escorting the Lord Vishwanath and Visalakshi. All this makes makes Kalpathy come alive with the spirit devotion and joyous celebration.