Kalpathi Ratholsavam

Kalpathi Ratholsavam is a Hindu temple festival held in Kalpathy village in Palakkad district of Kerala on the banks of the river Kalpathy (Nila River). The Kalpathi (Kalpathy) Ratholsavam Festival is held every November. Sri Viswanatha Temple in Kalpathy was established over 700 years ago and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This festival has been celebrated for centuries. If you go there during the chariot festival, you can see huge chariots rolling through the streets, reminiscent of the old days.

The Kalpathy festival is usually held from November 8 to 16. Kalpathi Rathotsavam is one of the most notable festivals in Kerala and lasts for ten days. For the last three days, three decorated Rathoms (chariots) have taken to the streets. At this time, 6 chariots from 4 temples in Kalpathy come together and march through the village streets in a big procession. The main chariot carrying Shiva and 2 small chariots for Ganapati and Murugan; Chariots from 3 other villages namely New Kalpathy Ganapati, Old Kalpathy Sri Krishna and Chathapuram Ganapati. This is known as ‘Devarathasangam’. Devotees flock from different places. The streets of Kalpathy will be filled with thousands devotees they gather to pull the decorated temple chariots through the streets. As the chariot rolls down the street, devotees and spectators alike meet in celebration. Thousands of devotees gather at Kalpathy and pull the chariot

Kalpathy is half Kashi, hence the name Kashi Half Kalpathy as it is similar to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It is believed that the Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva was brought here by a Tamil Brahmin woman from Tamil Nadu who visited the Kashi Vishwanathaswamy Temple in Varanasi. The temple dates back to 1425. Kalpathy was an early Tamil Brahmin center as the village or Agraharam is located on the banks of the river Ganges.

How to reach

Nearest town: Palakkad

Railway Station: Palakkad Railway Station (3 km)

Airport: Coimbatore, (Tamil Nadu), about 55 km.