Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy temple- Alleppey district, Kerala

Chakulathukavu is a famous Durga temple in Alleppey district,Kerala.

 Devotees   pray fervently to Mother Goddess here  and she answers all their prayers.

This temple is believed to be  3000 years old  and  Pongala festival is very famous here. During the  festival  lakhs of women devotees  converge  here and prepare Pongala and  offer  it to Goddess. They also observe  fast  during the worship and partake food and water only after the ceremony. 

Pongala  is a sweet prepared by mixing rice, jaggery, coconut and is cooked in fresh earthen pots.

  This festival falls in the month of  November -December.

Read about Attukal  Bhagavathy temple which is also very famous for Pongala festival which attracts devotees from all over the world.

Temple Timings:

04:30 - 13:00 hrs

16:30 - 20:00 hrs

Contact Details:

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple

Neerettupuram P.O., Thiruvalla

Kerala

Ph: + 91 477 2213550

Check my pictures. These were captured a few years back

Karthyayani temple- Cherthala, Kerala, Alleppey district

Karthyani temple, in Cherthala is a famous temple right in the center of the town near the KSRTC bus stand.

A powerful Goddess Vishnu Maya is worshipped here.

The sprawling grounds with salubrious environment  has a soothing and refreshing effect on the mind.  We do not see any idol as such in the temple but a small eruption on the floor like a swaymabhu decked with flowers. It is believed that, worshiping Goddess here will remove all obstacles one faces in life. She provides solace and comfort to all those who seek refuge in her.

Offering Kozhi ( fowl) in the temple in return for the favours received is very famous here,the temple is also known as kozhi ambalam.

Now as the number of fowls in the temple have gone up they have been caged in a separate enclosure so that they do not pose any threat to the devotees.

This temple has sub  shrines for Sasthavu, Nagas,Vishnu ,Shiva and Ganesha.
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Arthungal St. Andrew's Basilica- Cherthala, Alleppey District,kerala

Arthungal village, lies very close to Cherthala town and this place is very famous for the holy Basilica which has Saint Andrew as its patron. But it is famous for the Feast of St. Sebastian which is conducted every year in January for about a week. 

St. Sebastian is considered to be guardian Saint of the village and thousands visit this church every year seeking the Saints blessings. People who are maimed, sick or going through difficulties visit the Basilica and find relief and solace at the feet of the saint.

During the Feast,  an idol of St. Sebastian is taken out in procession and thousands participate in the worship. Many devotees crawl on their knees or roll on the ground to express their gratitude to the Saint during the Feast for the favours they received.

There is an old church behind the main Basilica with excellent carvings and Altar.

Pilgrims from Sabarimala on their return trip visit this church to seek the blessings of the saint. 

In 1647 an of  idol St.Sebastian struck with arrows was brought from Italy in a ship and was placed in the church  and since then devotees believe He is the guardian angel of the village.

Officially it is known as the Arthungal St. Andrew's Forane Church and was elevated to the level of Basilica in 2010.

How to reach:The nearest railway station is Cherthala. .Arthungal is 8 Kms. from Cherthala town.Plenty of buses ply from Cherthala town.