Footage filmed and produced on March 24 in Kollam, India shows thousands of men dressing as women as part of a festival named "Chamayavilakku."
It took place at the Kottankulangara Devi Temple.
During the festivities, thousands of men irrespective of their religious faith dress up as women and offer prayers to the Goddess Bhagavathy.
It is believed that whoever celebrates this festival will have their wishes fulfilled and all their sins be forgiven.
Location- kollam, Kerala
Date -24th , March
Chamayavilakku is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala. This is a very unique festival in which thousands of men dress up as women. The festival takes place at the Kottankulangara Devi Temple at Kollam, which is sacred to the goddess Bhagavathy.
Chamayavilakku is a unique festival where masculine dons the feminine. To witness such a unique festival, one should come to Kottankulangara Devi temple to partake in the Kottankulangara Chamayavilakku festival. The deity in the temple is known to be “Swayambhoo”, which means that the deity is self-originated.
During the festivities thousands of men irrespective of their religious faith dress up as women and offer prayers to the Goddess Bhagavathy. The Kottankulangara Sree Devi temple is also unique because it is the only temple in Kerala that has no roof the sanctum sanctorum. During the festivities boys and men dress up as girls and ladies to hold the traditional temple lamp.
The celebrations begin in the wee hours of the day when the men prepare the chariots of the Goddess and adorn them with beautiful flowers. Then, later they get dressed up as women and prepare for the actual festivities. The men, clad in half sarees, sarees or chudidars wear heavy make-up and jewelry, such that it's difficult to tell men from women. Their outfits are complete with elaborate hair-does adorned with Jasmine flowers. There is no age limit for the participants.
The festival is celebrated on the 10th and 11th day of the Meenam Month and is a symbol of men atoning for their sins before the goddess Bhagavathy. The name Chamayavilakku comes from the word “Chamaya” which means “make-up”. It is believed that whosoever celebrates this festival will have all their wishes fulfilled and all their sins forgiven.
In order to commemorate the legend and origin of the temple, the model of the ancient temple is constructed every year. Devotees stand in long lines from Kunjalummoodu to Arattukadavu at the time of the Devi’s journey from Kunjalummoodu.
A myth behind Jeevatha Ezhunnallathu is that the goddess visits her devotees and devotees offer Anpara, Ezhu para to Devi seeking her blessings.
According to folklore, the festival originated after a few boys who were playing in the jungle found a coconut. When they tried to break it by banging it against a rock, the coconut cracked and began to ooze blood. When they told this to the local priest, he advised the boys that it is a form of the Goddess and therefore they should build a temple there and worship her. Since only women were allowed to worship the goddess, the boys wore their lungis like sarees and worshiped her. This was the beginning of this unique tradition.
Another myth is that a group of cowherds offered some flowers to a stone, dressed as girls. This had a profound effect upon them as they began to feel a divine energy pouring out of this stone. This led them to call the stone Kottan and built a temple around it.
Whatever, the myth regarding this unique festival, it certainly adds more colour to the already colourful festivities that India is known for. In fact, since this festival is not that well known outside the state of Kerala it will certainly be interesting to visit Kerala and discover for oneself this unique festival, where gender roles are 'reversed' and enhance one's knowledge about our beautiful country.
