Kalpathy chariot festival returns to Palakkad from November 7

Preparations have begun in Kalpathy, Palakkad, for the annual chariot festival, scheduled to run from November 7 to 17. The main chariot celebrations will be held from November 14 to 16.

Festival committees of the four local temples have started coordinating arrangements. Representatives and trustees of the Sree Visalakshi Sametha Viswanathaswamy Temple, the Mandakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Temple, the Sree Lakshminarayana Perumal Temple and the Sree Prasanna Mahaganapathy Temple took part in an initial coordination meeting held at Kalpathy on Saturday.

Six chariots attached to the four temples will set out through the village on November 14, with processions continuing over the next two days. A Ratha Sangamam is planned for the evening of November 16. The festival will close on November 17 with Aarattu and the lowering of the festival flag.

Rituals and schedule

The proceedings open with Vastubali and Shanti Homam on the evening of November 7, followed by flag-hoisting at the four temples on the morning of November 8. Vedic scholars from various parts of the country will participate in Chaturveda recitations and temple rituals through the festival period. Special arrangements are being made for devotees to view the Pallakku-Ratha Sangamam at midnight on November 12.

Ahead of the event, a joint publication covering the festival, the temples and Kalpathy's agraharams will be released at the Viswanathaswamy Temple on October 8.

Civic coordination

Organisers are working with government departments and local bodies on traffic management, parking, security, sanitation, drinking water and electricity. Additional provisions are also being sought for senior citizens and other visitors.

A joint representation has been submitted to the Palakkad district administration and the municipality, requesting support for road maintenance, traffic regulation, parking and other essential services during the festival.