The 12-day annual festival at the Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy temple at Neerettupuram, near Thiruvalla, began with the ‘kodiyettu’ ceremony on Sunday.
Govindan Namboodiri, tantri, assisted by Manikkuttan Namboodiri, temple administrator, performed the rituals in connection with the ceremony.
Hundreds of devotees were present. A Maha Ganapati Homam was performed in the morning.
A five-day Sarvasidhidhara yagam, led by Radhakrishnan Namboodiri, chief priest, also began.
A discourse on ‘Devi Mahatmyam,’ by Ramesh Ilamon Namboodiri, was held after the ‘deeparadhana’ in the evening.
The annual ‘Nareepuja’ will be performed at the temple on Friday. Premalata Vijayakant, wife of Tamil actor Vijayakant, will be the guest honour.
A cultural meeting will be held as part of the Nareepuja. Actor Suresh Gopi will be the chief guest.