Kodungallur Bharani festival, Thrissur

Located in the district of Thrissur, Kerala state of India, Kodungallur or Kodungalloor is a municipality which once served as the capital of the Kulasekhara dynasty (Second Cheras), called Mahodayapuram or Shinkli. Muziris, the ancient seaport of Kerala used to be very close to Kodungallur which is noted for the temple dedicated to goddess “Kali”. The annual Bharani festival held in this temple is very popular.

Legend says that Kali after killing Darikan, the demon king became angry and in order to abate her anger, her soldiers (bhoothaganams) danced and sang lewd songs. William Logan, a social historian of Kerala, noted in 1887 that, "after Onam, the national festival, Kodungallur Bharani was the most important celebration in Kerala."

In Kerala, Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple witnesses the largest congregation of oracles or Velichappadus (‘revealers of light’) from different districts of the state during the festival held here.