Every November, the quiet lanes of Kalpathy in Palakkad fill with drumbeats, nadaswaram, and thousands of devotees waiting for one sight: towering wooden chariots rolling through the agraharam streets. This is Kalpathy (also spelt Kalpathi) Ratholsavam, also known as Rathotsavam or the Kalpathy chariot festival, the celebration that has made this small heritage village famous across Kerala and beyond.
If you are planning to attend in 2026, or simply want to feel close to home from wherever you are, here is everything you need to know.
Kalpathy Ratholsavam 2026: Full Schedule
The festival is held at the Sree Visalakshi Sametha Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple, Kalpathy, Palakkad, and is widely regarded as the largest chariot festival in Kerala. This year is special: it is the first Ratholsavam after the temple's renovation and Mahakumbhabhishekam.
| Date | Time | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov (Sat) | 7:00 PM | Vastu Shanthi, Vastu Homam, Vastu Bali |
| 8 Nov (Sun) | 6:30 AM | Veda Parayanam (Vedic chanting) begins |
| 8 Nov (Sun) | 11:00–11:45 AM | Dhwajaarohanam (flag hoisting) |
| 8 Nov (Sun) | 5:00 PM | Sanctum opening, Yagashala Puja, Deeparadhana, Ashtabali, Grama Pradakshinam |
| 8 Nov (Sun) | 9:00 PM | Ardhayama Puja |
| 8–16 Nov (daily) | 7:00 AM & 6:00 PM | Abhishekam, Yagashala Puja, Veda Parayanam, Ashtabali, Grama Pradakshinam |
| 12 Nov (Thu) | 9:00 PM | Anjaam Thirunaal (5th day, Vrushabha Vahanam): Shodasha Upachara Puja, Ashtabali, Grama Pradakshinam |
| 14 Nov (Sat) | 10:00–11:00 AM | Onnaam Theru: Thirukalyaanam (divine wedding of Viswanatha Swamy and Visalakshi) |
| 14 Nov (Sat) | 11:45 AM–12:15 PM | Deity mounted on the chariot; procession begins |
| 14 Nov (Sat) | 4:00 PM | Chariot procession |
| 15 Nov (Sun) | 4:00 PM | Rendaam Theru: chariot procession |
| 16 Nov (Mon) | 4:00 PM | Moonaam Theru: chariot procession, followed by Ratha Sangamam |
| 16 Nov (Mon) | 9:00 PM | Prayaschitta Abhishekam, Alankara Deeparadhana, Pallakku Kacheri, Grama Pradakshinam |
| 17 Nov (Tue) | 10:30–11:00 AM | Dhwaja Avarohanam (flag lowering), Palika Visarjanam, Alankara Deeparadhana |
Schedule as published by the Sri Vishalakshi Sametha Viswanatha Swamy Devaswom. Special homas are held at the Yagashala every morning and evening through the festival. Temple administrators may change programmes, so confirm locally before travelling (Devaswom: 70344 02030). Ahead of the festival, Annabhishekam is on 25 October 2026 at 4:30 PM.
What Happens During the Festival
Dhwajaarohanam on 8 November marks the formal start, after Vastu rituals the evening before. Vedic chanting begins at dawn, the flag goes up before noon, and from that evening the village settles into a daily rhythm of poojas, homas and processions around the agraharam.
Anjaam Thirunaal, the fifth day, brings the deity out on the Vrushabha Vahanam (the sacred bull) for a night procession.
The three chariot days are known as Onnaam Theru, Rendaam Theru and Moonaam Theru. On Onnaam Theru, the morning begins with the Thirukalyaanam, the divine wedding of Viswanatha Swamy and Visalakshi. The deities are then mounted on the chariot (Ratharohanam), and devotees begin pulling the massive chariots by thick ropes through the agraharam streets. Processions continue each afternoon from 4 PM.
The high point is Ratha Sangamam on Moonaam Theru (16 November), when the divine chariots come together after the afternoon procession. For many families, this is the image they carry with them all year. The night ends with Prayaschitta Abhishekam and the Pallakku Kacheri, a palanquin procession with music around the village.
The festival closes on 17 November with Dhwaja Avarohanam, the lowering of the flag, and Palika Visarjanam.
Why Kalpathy Is Called "Half of Kashi"
There is a well-known saying, Kasiyil pakuthi Kalpathy, meaning Kalpathy holds half the sanctity of Kashi. According to the Devaswom, the temple dates to the 14th century, and its presiding deity, Sri Viswanatha Swamy, is a Bana Lingam brought from Kashi, enshrined alongside Goddess Visalakshi. The temple follows the traditions of the Sri Mayuranatha Temple in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu. (Read more on the temples of Kalpathy.)
Kalpathy is also recognised as one of Kerala's best-preserved heritage villages. Its rows of agraharam houses, with shared walls, sloping tiled roofs and front thinnais, are much the same as they were generations ago.
The Food That Comes With the Festival
Ask anyone who grew up in a Palakkad agraharam about Ratholsavam, and the conversation turns to food within a minute.
Festival time means houses full of relatives, and kitchens that start working days in advance. Exact menus vary from family to family, but some things show up in many Palakkad Iyer homes:
- Freshly made murukku and other crisp palaharams, stored in steel tins for guests
- Sambar and rasam made with home-ground podis, roasted the Palakkad way with coconut and a balanced hand on the spice
- Pickles like maavadu (tender mango), narthangai and veppilakatty (veppilaikatti)
- Banana chips fried in coconut oil, always within reach
These are not festival-only foods, but Ratholsavam is when they taste most like home. For families now living in Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai or abroad, recreating that taste is often the closest they get to being in the village during the festival. (More on life in the Kalpathy agraharams.)
That is exactly the taste we grew up with, and the reason we named our kitchen after this village. If you are celebrating from afar this year, our Palakkad Iyer Sambar Powder, Kai Murukku, Tender Mango Pickle, Narthangai, Veppilaikatti and Kerala Banana Chips are made the traditional agraharam way.
Tips for Visiting Kalpathy Ratholsavam
- Reach early on the Theru days. Processions start at 4 PM and crowds peak through the evening.
- Wear comfortable footwear and keep valuables minimal.
- Respect the agraharam. These are living homes, not just heritage backdrops. Ask before photographing residents or entering verandahs.
- Stay hydrated. November afternoons in Palakkad can still be warm.
- Palakkad town is the nearest base, with Palakkad Junction railway station a short drive away. Coimbatore is the nearest major airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Kalpathy Ratholsavam 2026?
The festival runs from 8 November (flag hoisting) to 17 November 2026 (flag lowering).
When is Ratha Sangamam 2026?
Ratha Sangamam is on Monday, 16 November 2026 (Moonaam Theru), following the chariot procession that starts at 4 PM.
What are Onnaam, Rendaam and Moonaam Theru?
They are the first, second and third chariot procession days: 14, 15 and 16 November 2026.
Where is Kalpathy (Kalpathi)?
Kalpathy, also spelt Kalpathi, is a heritage agraharam village on the outskirts of Palakkad town, Kerala.
Which temple hosts the festival?
The Sree Visalakshi Sametha Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple, Kalpathy.
What food is associated with the festival?
In many Palakkad Iyer homes, festival days mean murukku and other palaharams, home-ground sambar and rasam podis, pickles and banana chips. Specific dishes vary by family.
Whether you will be pulling the chariot rope in Kalpathy this November or watching the Ratha Sangamam on a phone screen far away, we wish you and your family a blessed Ratholsavam.
From the kitchens of Kalpathy, with love. — KalpathyStore
