Karppillikkavu Pooram is celebrated in association with the annual festival of
Karppillikkavu Shri Mahadeva Temple. The temple is one among the 108 eminent Shiva kshetras in India, located at
Manjapra village in
Ernakulam District. The presiding deity is
Lord Shiva. The festival is held during the Malayalam month of Makara (January-February) for eight days.
It is believed that these festival days are very important days in which Shiva is in a pleasant mood and grants all that the devotees ask for. The religious celebrations are carried out in strict tantric ways. There are also various cultural programs and other art forms arranged in association with the festival.
Utsavabali is conducted in the temple in a majestic manner on the sixth day. There is a special ritual called Sreebhootabali which is the puja feast provided for the Bhootagana who are the soldiers of Shiva. All devotees assembled are served food.
On the seventh day of the festival, the idol is brought out from the temple, accompanied by seven eminent caparisoned elephants. To add to the beauty of the procession through the Manjapra town, Panchavadyam and Chendamelam are conducted by well known artists. The procession ends at the temple when the idol is taken inside the temple.
