Overview
About the event
The Ochira Parabrahma Temple, located near the National Highway connecting Kollam and Alappuzha districts, is distinctive for its lack of a defined layout or idol of worship. Here, the worship revolves around the concept of Parabrahma or the universal consciousness, making it stand apart from other temples.
The highlight of the festival at this temple is the Ochira Kali, a mock battle that commemorates a historic conflict between the Kayamkulam and Ambalapuzha kingdoms. This battle is reenacted by boys and men, divided into two groups, who engage in a playful yet intense combat in a waterlogged field known as padanilam. The participants use sticks instead of swords and splash muddy water at each other to the rhythmic beats of drums, creating a lively and spirited atmosphere.
Held on the first two days of the Malayalam month of Mithunam (mid-June), the Ochira Kali festival attracts numerous visitors who come to witness this unique and vigorous tradition. The mock battle serves not only as a remembrance of the historical battle fought between the Maharaja of Travancore, Marthanda Varma, and the Raja of Kayamkulam, but also as a vibrant display of community participation and cultural heritage.
