The main deity of the temple is the fierce form of Bhadrakali, who is considered the mother of the ancient martial art Kalarippayattu. The temple also has shrines dedicated to Shiva, Sapta Mathrukkal, Ganapathy, Veerabhadra, and Kshetrapalakan in four sanctums. The main deity faces west, while the shrine of Shiva faces east.
Every morning, after the rites, the Sacred Sword is taken to the Mandapam adjacent to the Maathrushaala and is brought back in the evening after the rites, symbolizing the martial heritage and divine protection of the temple.
Festivals
The Temple has a number of festivals. The important ones are :
Pooram Festival
The Pooram festival at Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, celebrated in March-April, lasts for nine days, starting on Karthika nakshatra and ending on Uthram nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Meenam. On the 7th day, the idol is taken to Shri Siveshwaram Temple, on the 8th to Kadalai Shri Krishna Temple, and on the 9th, it is brought back with grand fireworks. The festival begins with a Kalarippayattu performance and features musical and traditional art performances such as Thayambaka and Poorakkali, enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the celebrations.
Theyyam
Theyyam, a religious ritualistic art-form, is performed in temples and kavus in North Malabar, including at Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple. As the family deity of the Kolathiri, the temple conducts the last Theyyam of the season, marking the commencement of the Theyyam period for the year. In June, the festival of Kalasham is celebrated to conclude the Theyyam period, bringing the ritual cycle to a close.
Contact Address: Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, Valapattanam Post, Kannur, Kerala 670010
Phone Number: 0497 277 8050
