Overview
About the event
he Manimalarkkavu Bharani festival, celebrated at Velur Manimalarkkavu
Temple in Thrissur, is a vibrant annual event dedicated to Goddess
Bhagavathy. This grand festival takes place during February - March
every year, drawing devotees and cultural enthusiasts alike.The temple,
one of the 18 royal shrines (Pathinettara Kavu) of the Kochi kingdom, is
unique for its roofless sanctum sanctorum (vatta sreekovil), where
Bhagavathy is enshrined in all her divine glory. In 1956, the temple
became the site of a quiet yet powerful act of defiance that reshaped
Kerala's social history.?� The event, known as the Velur Maaru Marakkal
(breast-covering) protest, faced resistance but ultimately led to the
acceptance of women wearing blouses in temple rituals.
