Chottanikkara Makam Thozhal on Saturday

CHOTTANIKKARA: Chottanikkara Makam Thozhal will be held on Saturday. The Makam star in the month of Kumbham is considered one of the most auspicious days to have darsan of Chottanikkara Bhagavati, especially for women.

Legend has it that the goddess accompanied Adi Sankara while he returned to Kerala from Karnataka on condition that he would not look back during the journey and that he would be guided by the sound of her anklets. But, when the sound of anklets stopped suddenly, the saint looked back. The goddess disappeared as he broke his promise.

The spot where the Chottanikkara temple stands is regarded as the spot where Sankara broke his promise to the goddess. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar is said to have installed the idol of the goddess at Chottanikkara in the Keezhkavu temple. He is said to have had a vision of the goddess at the Sree Moolasthanam of the temple on Makam.

The saint visited Chottanikkara temple in Kumbham. The time of his visit was auspicious, and from that day onwards, devotees started to visit the temple on the Makam day in Kumbham.

This year, the Makam thozhal is from 2 pm to 8.30 pm Thousands of devotees, especially women, from all over the state will visit the temple on Saturday. The Devaswom Board has completed all the preliminary arrangements.

The queue of the women devotees will begin from Chottanikkara School Ground. From the School Ground to the Western Gateway, barricades and temporary nadapandal have been put up.

The devotees coming from this direction should enter the temple through the northern door of the chuttambalam and, after the darsan, should exit through the southern door. Men should enter the mathilakam through the northern pooraparambu and they should enter the chuttambalam through the balikkalpura on the eastern side of the temple. After darsan, they should leave the temple through the southern door.

The Board has constructed a temporary waiting shed for the devotees who wait for hours to get darshan.

Snacks and sambharam will be provided to the devotees waiting in the queue. The Fire and Rescue Services, Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity Board and the Health Department have extended their service.

All devotees attending the Makam and Pooram celebrations will come under the group insurance scheme.

A police team, including policewomen, will supervise the entire Makam Thozal ritual. Parking facility will be available at the northern and southern part of the temple.