Malanada Temple is situated at Pooruvazhi near
Adoor in
Pathanamthitta District. The temple is dedicated to
Duryodhana of the
Mahabharata. The main ritual offering of this temple is toddy, an alcoholic beverage extracted from the coconut palm.
The annual festival is a one-day ceremony conducted in March. The highlight of the festival is the Kettukazhcha. It is a striking example of the traditional celebrations of rural Kerala and attracts numerous people from the vicinity.
The highlight of the festival is the Kettukazhcha procession in the evening. This event contains a Kala (bull motif), a Kuthira (horse motif) and a decorated temple cart. The biggest among these structures is 70 to 80 ft tall. These motifs are carried on the shoulders or placed on chariots. From the historical evidences, it is said that this event is a reminder of the Buddhist influence the area had.
Malanada temple can be accessed from Adoor as well as from Chengannur. Adoor is around 12 km away. Chengannur Railway Station is about 30 km away. Trivandrum International Airport is 92 km away.
