Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam
| Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam | |
|---|---|
Kottiyoor Yajna Bhoomi | |
| Official name | Vysakha Mahotsavam |
| Also called | Kottiyoor Utsavam |
| Observed by | Hindu |
| Type | Religious |
| Observances | Circumambulation of the Swayambhu linga through the sacred pond (Thiruvanchira) |
| Begins | Swati in Saka Calendar:Vaisakha; (Gregorian Calendar: May–June) |
| Ends | Chitra in Saka Calendar:Jyaistha; (Gregorian Calendar:June–July) |
| Duration | 27 days |
| Related to | Daksha Yaga |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
|---|
Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam (Sanskrit: वैशाख महोत्सव) is an annual 27-day Hindu pilgrimage held in Kottiyoor, Kerala. The festival commemorates the Daksha Yaga, a significant event in Hindu mythology. Similar to the Kumbh Mela at Prayag, the pilgrimage features ritual ablutions. The site is not classified as a conventional temple due to the absence of permanent structures. Instead, a temporary hermitage constructed with Palmyra leaves, known as Yajna Bhoomi, serves as the focal point of the rituals. Kottiyoor is also referred to as Dakshina Kasi (the Varanasi of the South) for its religious significance.