Men in women’s garb to appease the Goddess during Chamayavilakku
Kollam: The ten day annual festival at Kottankulangara temple at Chavara near here stands out for the unique ritual of Chamayavilakku, which is observed on the last two days of the festival.
Scores of men of all castes and creed dress up as women in gorgeous saris or the traditional ‘set mundu’ and offer prayers and participate in colorful processions. It is performed as a thanks giving ritual by the ardent devotees who come from far and wide. The devotees carry a five wicked lamp mounted on a wooden pole, from which all other lamps of the temple are lighted up.
Legend says that the Goddess was overly pleased with the cow boys who acted as girls and offered flowers and coconut preparations to the deity. The temple was constructed without an outer wall as per the divine revelation made to one of these boys. The ritual of men donning female attires was started ever since then and even today it is practiced once in every year with religious fervor and gaiety during the chamayavilakku festival. It is believed to be one of the most popular offering to the goddess to invoke her blessings and to cast away all the sins.