Malanada Kettukazcha

About this event

Malanada Kettukazhcha is the principal spectacle of the annual Malakkuda Mahotsavam at Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple in Edakkad, Kollam district, a distinctive shrine where Duryodhana, the Kaurava king of the Mahabharata, is traditionally worshipped. The temple is unusual in having no idol or conventional sanctum sanctorum, with worship centred on the sacred landscape and established local rituals. Held annually in March, the Kettukazhcha is a community-centred pageantry in which elaborate structures known as Edupu Kala and Edupu Kuthira are brought from surrounding localities as votive offerings and displayed in the broad paddy fields near the temple. Some of these structures reach around 70 to 80 feet in height, making the festival particularly notable for its scale and craftsmanship. The structures represent figures such as bulls and horses and are created through the collective effort of local communities, reflecting a longstanding tradition of devotional offering and village craftsmanship. On the main festival day, the Oorali, or traditional priest, performs prescribed rituals and blesses the Kettukazhcha structures before the procession begins. The displays are then moved towards the Malanada hill, with some carried by groups of people and others mounted on large chariots. The procession traditionally circles the temple three times before the structures are positioned on the hill for the night. Traditional percussion provides an important musical accompaniment, while the festival programme also includes cultural performances. Kerala Tourism specifically identifies Kathakali based on the story Nizhalkuthu as a customary feature of the night-time programme. The festival is also known as Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Malakkuda Utsavam and is associated with the Malayalam month of Meenam. Kerala Tourism describes the main celebration as taking place on the second Friday of Meenam, following the Kodiyettu, or flag-hoisting ceremony, on the first Friday. The festival’s traditions are closely connected with the seven Karakal, or local territorial divisions associated with the jurisdiction of Malanada Appooppan, whose communities contribute to the display. The unusual worship of Duryodhana, the absence of an idol and sanctum, and the enormous handcrafted Kettukazhcha structures give the celebration a character distinct from conventional Kerala temple festivals. More than a visual spectacle, the event represents a continuing community tradition in which religious belief, folklore, craftsmanship, ritual, music and collective participation converge.

🚆 Railway: Sasthamkotta Railway Station — approximately 12 km from Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple; Karunagappally Railway Station is approximately 17 km away.

✈️ Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport — approximately 91 km from the temple.

🚌 Bus: Chakkuvally Bus Stop is approximately 7 m from the temple according to Kerala Tourism’s festival access document; Poruvazhy is the nearest local area. During the festival, access and traffic arrangements may be subject to local restrictions.

🏨 Stay: Accommodation is available in Sasthamkotta, Karunagappally and other nearby towns, with additional hotels and stays in the wider Kollam region.

✅ Notes: Malanada Kettukazhcha is held annually in March and is associated with the second Friday of the Malayalam month of Meenam. Kerala Tourism’s 2026–27 event calendar lists the next Malanada Kettukazhcha for March 2027. The festival involves large structures, crowds and processions, so visitors should follow local access and crowd-management instructions.