Kalpathi Ratholsavam 2023, Dates, Place and History
The Kalpathy Car Festival or Chariot Festival, conducted at Kaplathy near Palakkad in Kerala during the last week of the Tamil month Aippasi (October to November), is reminiscent of the world-renowned Puri Rath Yatra festival. The Kalpathy automobile festival is scheduled for November 14 to 16, 2023.
On the evening of November 15, the Rathasangamom will be conducted in front of the Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple in Kalpathy. Kalpathy and its 18 Agraharams are an ancient Tamil Brahmin settlement known as the ‘Varanasi of the South.’ Here, the 10-day Kalpathy Ratholsavam is the most significant event of the year.
The Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple in Kalpathy is the epicenter of the Kalpathy Car Festival. On concurrent days, temples in New Kalpathy, Old Kalpathy, and Chathapuram participate in the festivities. The last three days of the 10-day festival are the most significant. In addition, on the last day of the Aippasi month, the Rathasangamom takes place at Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple.
Kalpathi Ratholsavam Date 2023
Tuesday, 14 November 2023 – Thursday, 16 November 2023
History and Origin of Kalpathi Ratholsavam
The chariot festival dates back approximately 700 years. The legend surrounding it is as follows:
- Lakshmiammal, a Brahmin widow, was privileged enough to travel to Kashi (now Varanasi), the spiritual centre of Hinduism.
- She carried a Lingum, an emblematic representation of Lord Shiva, with her. She deposited the lingam on the banks of the Nila River and gave the then-king of Palakkad some gold coins to care for the lingam.
- The monarch constructed a magnificent temple in which to house the lingam.
- Currently, Lord Shiva and Parvati are seated in this 700-year-old temple with their offspring Ganapathi and Murugan, who are brought out during festivals.
- The village of Kalpathi is also known as “kasiyil pakuthi kalpathy,” which translates to “Kalpathi is half Kashi.”
- There are numerous parallels between the two locations.
- The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, located on the Ganges River, is comparable to the Sri Visalakshi Sametha Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple, located on the Nile River.
- The name of the river itself is Dakshin Bhagirathi.
How to Reach
Nearest Town: Palakkad – 3 km
Nearest Railway Station: Olavakot – 1 km
Nearest Airport: Coimbatore – 55 km