Ceremonial flag hoisted for Kalpathy chariot fest

Palakkad: The flag hoisting ceremony of the week-long Kalpathy 'ratholsavam' festival was held at the Visalakshi Viswanatha Swami Temple here on Monday. The world-famous chariot festival will be held from November 13 to 15 in which the five 'deva rathams', carrying idols, will come together at the Visalakshi Viswanatha Swami Temple in the presence of devotees from across the globe.

The Carnatic music festival, an integral part of the 'ratholsavam', began on Monday at the temple. It will end on November 12. During the festival, idols from the temples will be taken out on chariots thorough the Kalpathy Agraharam. Out of the four temples taking part in the festival, Mandakkara Maha Ganapathi Temple is renovating its 300-year-old chariot with the help of artists from Tamil Nadu. The renovated 25-feet-high chariot will have six wheels.