Kottankulangara Festival

The '''Kottankulangara Festival''' is an annual Hindu festival in Kerala, India in which thousands of men dress as women. The festival takes place at the Kottankulangara Devi temple at Chavara, Kerala which is sacred to the goddess Bhagavathy.
The '''Kottankulangara Festival''' is an annual Hindu festival in Kerala, India in which thousands of men dress as women. The festival takes place at the Kottankulangara Devi temple at Chavara, Kerala which is sacred to the goddess Bhagavathy.
- - -There is a temple named Kottankulangara Devi Temple at Chavara in Kollam. This is a place in Kerala where there is a religious offering by hindus , in which men dress up as girls and all make ups will be applied on them so that they will look like a real girl.

- - - This is a rare religious festival performed in south india and this is done to show respect to the Devi for the favours and blessings received. The boys wear set mundu and saree or pattu pavadai , churidhars and apply lipstick and put long hair wigs and after completing all such things these devotees will light up lamps and start visiting the temple as a procession.
- - - Kottankulangara photos is a very beautiful scene to watch with beautiful girl like boys, who can make the girls jealous of their wonderful beauty that amazes everyone with this transformation. Chamaya Vilakku is also known as Make Up Lamp and this procession is conducted at night when all of them will walk in the procession with lighted lamps to the temple.

set saree wearing male offering worship as a devotee in kottankulangara temple at kollam at the time of chamayavilakku festivalpavada davani blouse wearing male offering worship as a devotee in kottankulangara temple at kollam at the time of chamayavilakku festivalred saree wearing male offering worship as a devotee in kottankulangara temple at kollam at the time of chamayavilakku festival.

set saree wearing male offering worship as a devotee in kottankulangara temple at kollam at the time of chamayavilakku festival.
Lot of Homosexuals and transexuals, kothis in India from places like Kerala, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai attend this festival. You can reach this temple which is 14 km away from Kollam. ( Take a Bus or Train from Your Place to kollam in kerala and then go to this temple and then enquire in Bus Station about the Next Bus to Kottakulangara. ( Do not get trapped in hands of agents or guides who will ask for Huge Fees to Guide you to the temple)
- - - To attend this festival of men dressing as women you have to follow below tips,
Bring Saree, blouse or half saree , pavadai (long skirt) and blouse, dupatta or salwar kameez from your place. (Modern Dresses or Jeans are Not Allowed to be used inside the Temple)
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- - If you want Womens Wigs, it is available for Hire or you can buy it near The stalls in Temple.
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- - There are lot of Make Up Stalls Near the Temple . The Cost of Simple Make Up will be about Rs.100 or 200 (One Hundred or Two Hundred)
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- - You can buy Bangles and Flowers also from near by shops.
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- - Wooden Lamps are normally used and is the main thing you must have for participating in this ceremony. Such lamps are available for Hire.
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- - When You get inside the Temple You Will have to Give Rs.10 or something to get a Coupon which you will have to Pin on Your Dress.
- - - Remember that This is an offering to the Godess , so You should Pray Very Well so that all your Needs are Fulfilled.

- - - A major Problem is that Lot of Men will be there to Disturb and pass comments on people like you. So Try to Move around in Groups so that you can be safe.
- - - - The temple features an unusual ritual where hundreds of men dress up females.
- - - - This ritual is a votive offering to goddess Bhagavathy , the deity of the temple. In this unique ritual called Chamaya Vilakku (makeup lamp), the "damsels" come to the temple at night in a long procession holding lighted lamps in their hands. The ritual is held during March April every year. To know more about the ritual see Chamaya Vilakku .
- - Getting there
- Chavara is about 13 km from Kollam on Ernakulam route.


- - Nearest railway station: Kollam.
- - Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 71 km away from Kollam.
- - This festival is purely divine in nature. Five-year-old boy to senior citizen, without any age restrictions, used to participate in the festival as a part of a ritual to the Goddess for fulfillmentof their wishes. On an average 1200 to 1500 guys used to participate every year.
- - Participants should be dressed in decent female clothing and hold a lamp called â??Chamayavilakkuâ?? with them (available for rent at the temple premises). Those do not have lamp come with sexy dresses (even wearing sleeveless blouse) will not be allowed to participate in the festival.

- - Fem dressed males, in local language called as, â??Vilakkukal (lamps)â?? assemble first at the temple premises to ignite the lamp with them by the temple priest, then moving towards the pathway (small road) through which the deity is taken on procession. They will be taking position on either side of the pathway, about one km stretch. Once the procession is over they will moveto the temple to put off the light in their lamps in the place provided in the temple premises. While they hold the lamp they are treated as escort of the Goddess and will be respected by thelocal public, who are having belief / faith.
- - Though the â??Vilakkukalâ?? start assembling in the temple premises from 9 pm in the night, the procession will be taking place around 4 am in the next morning. There is no rules that you would wait till the procession is over. At any point of time, you can put off your lamp according to the custom and leave for your place. However most of them will wait till the procession is complete in all respects.

- - The temple is situated in a village called â??kottankulangaraâ??, which is about 14 kms from Kollam and 10 kms from Karunagappally, another nearby town in the Trivandrum â?? Salem National Highway (NH-47). Kollam and Karunagappally, both are suitable for comfortable stay. Since Kollam is the district headquarters availability of accommodation is more. Rooms are available from Rs.200/ to Rs.2500/- depending upon the facilities.

- - Bus services are available from Kollam and Karunagappally throughout the night to reach the temple. If you get dressed at your place of stay at Kollam / Karunagappally and going to the temple by bus, you have to face the public traveling in the bus, for which you should be prepared for. We cannot rule out presence of nuisance elements in the bus.
- - At the temple site many make-up kiosks are available, providing make up. They also give wig for rent. However dresses are not available for rent, which take note. Since the make-up parlors will be busy with clients, make up will not be that good to your expectations. There are many shops selling bangles, ear ornaments and other fem accessories but will be of cheap varieties only.
- - Participants should get a ticket of Rs.5/- from the temple authorities to enter the temple.
- Kollam Junction is a substantially big railway station in the main line connecting Ernakulam to Trivandrum / Kanya kumari. Since Trivandrum, capital of kerala, is directly connected with all the Metros by train, anybody coming from any part of India doesnâ??t have difficulty in reaching Kollam. Advance reservations are most important, as passenger traffic in this route is very high. Those who are coming down to participate the festival can get down at Kollam as all the trains, including super fast trains stop there. Nearest airport is Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), which is about 74 kms from Kollam.
- - The festival falls on March 24 and 25th this year. Though it is only starting of summer, temperature will be around 34 to 37 degrees, which you should be able to manage.


- - To and fro journey tickets are to be booked in advance.
- - Arrive at the place of stay on the previous evening to get decent accommodation.
- - Arrange your own conveyance if you wish to go to the temple site dressed from room
- - Go to the temple early to get lamp before the stocks get exhausted.
- - Donâ??ts
- - Avoid going outside the temple between 11 pm to 2 am without proper escorts.
- - Walking alone outside the temple premises is not advisable.

- - Avoid drinks and food items from temple site as they are polluted.
- - Face the comments from admirers with a smile and donâ??t react.
- - Advice to first time participants:
- First day visit the temple site in male dress; enjoy the festivities as admirer seeing and understanding happenings thereat. You can see how makeup parlors are working, the rate they charge etc. Donâ??t miss a walk through the crowds outside the temple at the peak time; say 11 pm to 2 am. Second day you can dress and participate in the festival and enjoy your feminity.
- - - - - Kerala is witnessing one of the worldâ??s most unique festivals. Hundreds of beautiful â??womenâ?? strolling on the temple premises on the festival night may not surprise you in the first instance until you realise that they are men in drags as part of a special ritual. Men dressing as women and making an offering to Bhagavathy, the templeâ??s goddess.

Kerala is witnessing one of the worldâ??s most unique festivals. Hundreds of beautiful â?? womenâ?? strolling on the temple premises on the festival night may not surprise you in the first instance until you realise that they are men in drags as part of a special ritual. Men dressing as women and making an offering to Bhagavathy, the templeâ??s goddess.
Line 126: Line 25: On a fateful day, Goddess Bhagavathy appeared before one of the boys. Subsequently, a temple came up and the ritual of men dressing up as women to offer prayers to the goddess got under way.
On a fateful day, Goddess Bhagavathy appeared before one of the boys. Subsequently, a temple came up and the ritual of men dressing up as women to offer prayers to the goddess got under way.