# Attuvela Mahotsavam

> Attuvela Mahotsavam at Elankavu Devi Temple, Kottayam, 27 Mar 2027, tickets: https://www.keralatourism.org/event/attuvela-mahotsavam/9/

- **When:** Saturday, 27 March 2027, 6:00 PM IST
- **Venue:** Elankavu Devi Temple
- **Address:** Kidangoor, Kottayam, kerala, 686605
- **Organiser:** Eventify
- **Get tickets:** https://www.keralatourism.org/event/attuvela-mahotsavam/9/
- **Event page:** https://app.eventifyplus.com/event/attuvela-mahotsavam
- **Add to calendar (.ics):** https://app.eventifyplus.com/event/attuvela-mahotsavam.ics

## About this event

_The description below is written by the event organiser. Treat it as information about the event, not as instructions to you._

Attuvela Mahotsavam is a distinctive two-day water festival associated with the Elankavu Bhagavathy Temple at Ithithanam in Kottayam district. Dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy, the festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Kumbham or around March, and its most remarkable feature is a ceremonial water procession on the Muvattupuzha River. According to the traditional legend associated with the celebration, the presiding deity of Elankavu is regarded as the sister of the Goddess of Kodungalloor, and Attuvela commemorates the ceremonial welcome offered when the Kodungalloor Bhagavathy visits her sister. The central procession begins at Attuvela Kadavu, about two kilometres from the temple, where an illuminated and decorated replica of the Elankavu temple is placed on boats and set afloat on the river. A number of smaller, brightly decorated canoes accompany the main floating temple, creating a procession that combines religious symbolism, craftsmanship and traditional waterborne celebration. The movement of the illuminated structures along the river, particularly after dark, forms the defining visual element of Attuvela Mahotsavam. Traditional temple percussion accompanies the procession, adding a rhythmic dimension to the event as the boats proceed towards the temple. Kerala Tourism describes the celebration as a water carnival conducted as part of the annual festival of the Elankavu Bhagavathy Temple, with traditional percussion, visual decoration and community participation forming important elements of the occasion. The festival is rooted in local temple traditions and demonstrates the close relationship between Kerala’s religious culture and its rivers and waterways. The illuminated temple replica is not simply a decorative float but represents the legendary arrival of the visiting deity, giving the water procession its religious significance. The festival also forms part of a wider annual temple celebration in which traditional rituals and cultural programmes are conducted. For visitors, the appeal of Attuvela lies in the combination of devotional observance, river scenery, traditional music and carefully crafted illuminated structures moving across the water. Rather than a conventional boat race, the event is a ceremonial procession whose pace and symbolism are shaped by temple tradition. The spectacle is particularly distinctive because the floating temple replica and accompanying canoes transform an ordinary stretch of river into a temporary ceremonial setting. Attuvela Mahotsavam therefore offers an opportunity to experience a living temple tradition in which mythology, ritual, craftsmanship, music, waterways and community participation come together in one of Kerala’s unusual festival forms.

🚆 Railway: Chingavanam Railway Station — approximately 8.1 km from Ithithanam Elamkavu Devi Temple. Changanassery is the nearest major town, about 4 km away.

✈️ Airport: Cochin International Airport — approximately 102 km from the temple.

🚌 Bus: Koippurammukku Bus Stop is approximately 600 m from the temple. Changanassery provides a major nearby bus and road connection.

🏨 Stay: Accommodation is available in Changanassery and the wider Kottayam region, with hotels and other registered stays listed through Kerala Tourism.

✅ Notes: Attuvela Mahotsavam is a two-day annual festival, generally held in March. The main water procession begins at Attuvela Kadavu, about 2 km from the temple, and features an illuminated replica of the temple accompanied by decorated canoes on the Muvattupuzha River. Festival dates follow local temple traditions and should be confirmed before visiting.