# Kalpathy Ratholsavam (Chariot Festival)

> Kalpathy Ratholsavam (Chariot Festival) at Kalpathy Ratholsavam (Chariot Festival), Palakkad, 7 Nov 2026, tickets: https://www.keralatourism.org/event/kalpathi-ratholsavam/37/

- **When:** 7 Nov 2026, 5:00 AM – 15 Nov 2026, 11:00 PM IST
- **Venue:** Kalpathy Ratholsavam (Chariot Festival)
- **Address:** Palakkad, Kerala, 678003
- **Organiser:** Eventify
- **Get tickets:** https://www.keralatourism.org/event/kalpathi-ratholsavam/37/
- **Event page:** https://app.eventifyplus.com/event/kalpathy-ratholsavam-chariot-festival
- **Add to calendar (.ics):** https://app.eventifyplus.com/event/kalpathy-ratholsavam-chariot-festival.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._

Kalpathy Ratholsavam is an annual chariot festival centred on the historic Kalpathy Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple in Palakkad, Kerala, and is one of the best-known temple festivals associated with the Tamil Brahmin heritage of the region. The festival honours Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Viswanatha, rather than Lord Vishnu. Kalpathy is an important agraharam settlement, with traditional houses and streets that reflect the cultural history of Kerala’s Tamil Brahmin communities. The festival is held in the Malayalam month of Thulam, generally during October or November, and traditionally extends over several days. Its principal attraction is the grand procession of temple chariots through the agraharam streets. The wooden rathams, associated with the principal temple and neighbouring temples in Kalpathy, are decorated for the occasion and drawn by devotees along the traditional routes. The chariot processions are accompanied by devotional observances and traditional percussion and music, creating a distinctive festival atmosphere throughout the village. The festival is closely connected with the temple’s established ritual calendar, with special poojas and ceremonies taking place during the celebrations. The final days are particularly important for the ratholsavam, when the decorated chariots are brought out and pulled through the streets in a collective act of devotion. Kalpathy’s distinctive agraharam layout is an important part of the experience, as the processions pass through streets lined with traditional homes and historic temples. The festival also brings together residents, devotees and visitors, making it an important expression of the community’s religious and cultural identity. Kalpathy’s temple traditions have been preserved through generations, and the Ratholsavam provides a public setting in which these customs, devotional music and ceremonial practices continue to be observed. The festival is also significant for the wider heritage of Palakkad, where Tamil and Kerala cultural traditions have developed alongside one another over centuries. Visitors attending the Ratholsavam can experience the combination of temple worship, traditional music, chariot processions and agraharam heritage that gives Kalpathy its distinctive character. The festival should primarily be approached as a religious celebration, and visitors are expected to respect temple customs and the instructions of organisers and devotees. Annual dates vary according to the Malayalam calendar; for 2026, the festival is scheduled from 11 to 17 November, with the principal Ratholsavam celebrations occurring towards the end of the festival period.

🚆 Railway: Palakkad Junction Railway Station – approximately 4–5 km from Kalpathy.

✈️ Airport: Coimbatore International Airport – approximately 65–70 km from Kalpathy by road.

🚌 Bus: Regular local and regional buses connect Kalpathy with Palakkad town and surrounding areas. Additional traffic restrictions may be introduced around the festival procession routes.

🏨 Stay: Hotels, lodges and homestays are available in Palakkad town, with additional accommodation options in nearby areas.

✅ Notes: Kalpathy Ratholsavam 2026 is scheduled for 11–17 November 2026. The festival features traditional temple rituals and major chariot processions through the Kalpathy agraharam streets. Large crowds are expected during the Ratholsavam, and temporary traffic and access restrictions may apply around procession routes. Visitors should follow temple dress and entry regulations.