The 10-day ‘Koda’ festival at Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman temple began with the traditional ‘Kodiyettu’ ceremony, attracting thousands of devotees. The festival features various rituals and processions, culminating in the grand ‘Odukku Pooja’ on March 12.
Flag Hoisting Ceremony
- The ‘Kodiyettu’ ceremony marked the beginning of the 10-day ‘Koda’ festival at Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman temple.
- Temple tantri Edakkode Sankaranarayana Iyer initiated the festival rituals in the morning.
- Notable attendees included Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, former Kerala minister V S Sivakumar, and other dignitaries.
Upcoming Festival Highlights
- ‘Valiyapadukka’, a major midnight ritual, will be performed on March 8.
- The procession of ‘Valiya Theevatti’ will take place on March 11.
- The festival will conclude with the ‘Odukku Pooja’ at midnight on March 12, expected to be attended by lakhs of devotees from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Devotee Attendance and Preparations
- A steady flow of pilgrims, especially women, has been visiting the temple in the past month, preparing for the annual festival.
- Special inter-state bus services are being operated between Thiruvananthapuram and Mandaikadu by KSRTC and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.
Security Measures
- The Tamil Nadu police has deployed over 1,000 personnel and a contingent of Marine Police for security and crowd management.
- Watchtowers have been installed around the temple and coastal stretches close to the shrine to ensure safety.
Location and Historical Significance
- The Mandaikadu Devi temple is situated on the Arabian Sea coast near Colachel in Tamil Nadu, part of the erstwhile Travancore princely state.
As the Mandaikadu Temple Festival unfolds over the next ten days, it promises to be a celebration of devotion and tradition. With its rich rituals, processions, and the participation of devotees from across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the festival showcases the cultural heritage and spiritual significance of the region.
Source : dtnext
