Therukettu Mahotsavam

About this event

Therukettu Mahotsavam, popularly known as Perumon Theru, is a three-day annual festival held at the historic Sree Bhadrakali Temple in Perumon village, Kollam district, on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake. The festival is distinguished by its traditional chariot ritual, or Ratholsavam, in which a large temple chariot is ceremonially prepared and taken through the customary festival proceedings. Kerala Tourism identifies Perumon Theru as a distinctive annual celebration of the ancient Sree Bhadrakali temple and notes that the temple is traditionally associated with the annual construction of a chariot for the Ratholsavam. The festival is held during the Malayalam month of Meenam, generally corresponding to March or April, and attracts devotees and visitors to Perumon for its combination of religious observances and traditional pageantry. The chariot is the central visual feature of the celebration, while ceremonial rituals and temple music contribute to the devotional atmosphere. Traditional percussion forms part of Kerala’s wider temple-festival culture, although the exact musical and cultural programme can vary from year to year. The festival’s riverside setting beside Ashtamudi Lake adds another distinctive element to the experience, placing the temple and its annual rituals within one of Kollam’s important backwater landscapes. The temple is described in official tourism material as one of the ancient Bhadrakali temples of the region, with the festival preserving a longstanding chariot tradition connected with the shrine. Perumon Theru is therefore more accurately understood as a traditional temple Ratholsavam than simply as a street procession or cultural entertainment programme. Religious rituals remain central to the celebration, and visitors should approach the event with appropriate respect for the temple and its customs. The gathering also provides an opportunity to observe the continuing relationship between Kerala’s temple traditions, craftsmanship, ritual performance and community participation. Festival activities take place over several days, with the principal chariot-related ceremonies forming the major attraction. The exact schedule, procession arrangements and accompanying programmes may change annually, so visitors should check current information with the temple or local authorities before travelling. For those interested in Kerala’s living religious traditions, Perumon Theru offers a distinctive glimpse of a historic chariot festival in a rural setting shaped by the cultural and natural landscape of Ashtamudi Lake.

🚆 Railway: Kollam Junction Railway Station – approximately 13 km from Perumon, according to Kollam tourism information.

✈️ Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport – approximately 75 km from Perumon.

🚌 Bus: Perumon is accessible by local and private bus services from Kollam, Kundara, Chavara and surrounding areas. The temple is in the Perumon village area near the Ashtamudi Lake.

🏨 Stay: Hotels and lodges are available in Kollam, while homestays and other accommodation options are available in the wider Perumon–Munroe Island area.

✅ Notes: Therukettu Mahotsavam is the traditional name associated with Perumon Theru, held at Sree Bhadrakali Temple in Perumon, not at Panmana Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple. The festival is a three-day celebration held in Meenam (March–April) and is centred on the temple’s annual Ratholsavam and chariot tradition. Current festival dates and programme details should be confirmed locally before visiting.