Ernakulam Temple festival

The Ernakulathappan temple festival (or ulsavam as festivals are termed in Malayalam) is one of the grandest temple festivals in Kochi. It is celebrated for 8 consecutive days in the months of January or February during the Malayalam month of Makaram . The exact dates of festivals vary slightly every year. On the first day of the festival, the temple flag is hoisted. This is called Kodiyettam in Malayalam. In the following seven days of the ulsavam several cultural programmes like Kathakali, Ottamthullal, Classical dance, Classical music Kacheri are also held. Annadanam is also arranged in the temple during the festival when food is offered to devotees. On the eighth day of the festival, the tradition of Pakalpooram takes place where the deity is taken in procession with elephants in the lanes around the temple along with Panchavadyam(which literally means five instruments). Later that day, the temple flag is lowered and the deity is taken for Arattu which is the holy bath of the deity. In the night colourful fireworks and a cultural night is hosted in the Durbar Hall Ground where thousands of devotees gather to witness one of the grandest fireworks show in the city. Apart from this festival, Maha Shiv Rathri is also celebrated in the temple.