KollemcodeAmma

Sree Bhadrakali Temple is located at Kollemcode Village which belongs to Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu. The village is beside the border area of Kerala.There are two temples for Sree Bhadrakali. One is at Kollemcode and the other one at Venkanji. There are two deities(considered as sisters) –– elder sister Bhadra and the youger Rudhra. Bhadra and Rudhra are worshipped at the same temple. ‘Bharani’ is the birthday of Sree Bhadrakali. Every month Bharani day is celebrated in grand manner. On the Bharani Day in the Meenam month (March or April) of every year ‘Thookkam’ Festival is celebrated. Lakhs of people from all over India participates in the function.

Travancore province was famous as various synonyms such as Sreevazhumkode, Vanchibhoomi, Venadu Dharmarajyam. This province was ruled by Chola Kings, Kings of Shree Padmanabha Kulashekhara. Kollemcode is a beautiful village located at the seashore in Vilavancode Taluk of southern Travancore. Kollemcode include among the provinces of Venkanji, Anukode, Panavila etc which are literally the gift of nature and famous for their lush green area and natural sceneries. Kollemcode is a feast for eyes with its treasure of green paddy fields, lotus ponds and a variety of trees which will take a visitor to the lap of the nature. The Kollemcode Sree Bhadrakali Devi Temple is a jewel to this natural province. Once praised as the beauty spot of Travancore, Kollemcode Temple now belongs to Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. Kollemcode temple wakes up with the "Omkara" chanted by Arabian Sea and the Thathwamasi messages emerging from the heart of the universe. Though Shree Bhadrakali Devi is believed to be appeared here as dual form of Shakti viz. Bhadra and Kali, the devotees gets the blessings from the unified form of Mother Durga. These Goddess' reside in semi-circular "Mudis" (The artificial statue of Goddess) which are decorated with Snake Hood structures carved from jack tree wood. Kollemcode is the one and only place of its kind considering the fact that two temples for a single deity in the same province that too in a place which is renowned for it natural beauty. The "Moola Kshethram"(Parent Temple) "Shree Vattavila Bhadrakali Mudippura" is located not too far from the greenish paddy fields of Kollemcode province. This temple is believed to have omni presence of Goddess and daily worship (Pooja) is being conducted here. Besides this, there is another "Mudippura" at Venkanji province where festivals are celebrated. The famous "Thookka Mahotsavam" is celebrated in "Meenabharani " which is the birth date of the Goddess is celebrated at Venkanji Temple

Thookkam is an offering by the devotees to sree bhadrakali. Wedded couples offer thookkam for their children who are one year old or below. They offer thookkam for sree bhadrakali when children were born without any major health issues by her grace. Every year there would be more than 1200 thookkams. The duration of the festival is 10 days. On the first day the godess will be taken to venkanji from kollemcode. The diety will reside in venkani until the festival is over (10 days). The devotees should register their offering on the fourth day of the festival. The 10th day is the final day when the major festival called thookkam is conducted. The devotee will handover their child to a person(thookkakaran), who is hung by means of a hook at the end of the bow (villu) of the cart. There are two bows made up of wood at a length of 45’ each. Each carries two thookkakarans, each thookkakaran carries a child in his hand. In each cart there will be four children. The cart is pulled by people around the temple. Thookkam has to be seen in direct and its hard to explain the divine experience that is felt. The devotees offer gifts and money as compliments to the thookkakaran. All the necessary arrangements are made by the devaswom trust. The temple is under the control of sree bhadra kali devaswom trust which consists of eleven elected members of eleven nair families. All the poojas and offerings are made by the blacksmith poojaris who are appointed by the devaswom trust.

The Bharani Festival during the Malayalam month of meenam – March – April is the most important festival. The thookkam is celebrated at Venkanji Mudippura 1 km away from Kollemcode Mudippura where the deities are preserved. The Thookkam is an offering particularly favoured by the Devi and it is popular among the devotees in an around of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The festival lasts forten days. The most famous Thookkam is a sight to see not explain. On the first day of the festival ‘Devizhunnullathu from Kollemcode Mudippura to Venkanji Mudippura is accompany by elephants, various kinds of melams of the best artists of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. An important aspect of the festival is the hoisting of the Temple Flag. Lakhs of people participate irrespective of caste, creed and race. Every year the offering of Pongala is a special temple practice on the Pathamudayam Day of the Malayalam month ‘Medam’ – April. Thousands of devotees assemble from different parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Thye observe Pongala rituals in and around of the temple Leksharchana is the most important part of the ‘Pongala Mahotsava’. Kaliyoottu is conducted once in twelve years. According is legends Lord Siva created Bhadrakali to get rid of the atrocities of the giant Durikan. Sree Bhadrakali beheaded Darikan in the battle. The festival lasts four ten days. On the last day the ground battle takes place. Lakhs of people gather to witness the battle.

May the blessings of Goddess kollemcode Bhadrakali be bestowed upon you, reduce agony and save lives through the limitless showering of Her mercy.Contributions are welcome from individuals and organisations.Cheques and drafts drawn in favour of "Secretary, Sree Bhadrakali Dewaswom may be sent to the following address. SecretarySee Bhadrakali Dewaswom, Kollemcode, kanayakumari DistrictTamil Nadu- 629160 Phone : 04651- 246130