Kerala’s Kottiyoor Festival 2025: Sacred odapoo flower ritual draws huge crowds to Kannur

The Odapoo flower, a sacred bamboo blossom, is gifted during Kerala’s Kottiyoor Festival as a symbol of blessings, devotion, and mythological tradition. (Image: ANI)

Every monsoon, a sacred bloom stirs the spirit of Kerala’s hills—welcoming thousands to one of South India’s most mystical temple festivals. The Odapoo flower, an artificial blossom crafted from bamboo, becomes the emotional and spiritual symbol of the Kottiyoor Vaisakha Maholsavam, an ancient 28-day ritual pilgrimage held in the forests of Kannur, Kerala.

Held in the lap of the Western Ghats, beside the gushing Baveli River, the Kottiyoor festival blends mythology, natural wonder, and centuries-old Vedic and tribal rituals into one of the most compelling spiritual experiences in India.

The Magic of the Odapoo Flower

The Odapoo, also known as Otapoovu or Odappu, is no ordinary flower. Though it’s not a living bloom, this bamboo-crafted blossom holds deep cultural meaning. It is offered to Lord Shiva during the festival and taken home by devotees as a token of blessings, joy, and spiritual fulfillment. Gifting the Odapoo to loved ones is a cherished tradition, a way to share the sacred energy of the Kottiyoor darshan.

Kerala: The sacred Odapoo flower at the annual Kottiyoor festival draws large crowds to Kannur. (Image: ANI)

The flower represents more than devotion—it symbolizes the mythological beard of King Daksha, who was decapitated in the Shiva-Sati legend. Hung outside homes for over a year, the Odapoo serves as a lasting reminder of faith, protection, and divine connection.

When and Where: Kottiyoor Festival Dates and Location

The Kottiyoor Vaisakha Mahotsavam is held annually at the Akkare Kottiyoor Temple, located deep in the forests of Kannur district, Kerala. In 2025, the festival takes place from June 8 to July 4, aligning with the Malayalam months of Edavam and Midhunam.

The temple remains open only during this time, welcoming thousands of devotees from across Kerala and beyond. The Akkare Kottiyoor Temple is built on the riverbank and is dismantled each year after the festival ends. This ritualistic temporary structure underscores the festival’s organic, seasonal nature—an event built by and for the rhythm of the monsoon.

Festival of Myth and Monsoon

Kottiyoor is known as Dakshina Kashi or the Varanasi of the South, a title earned not just for its spiritual power, but for the deep mythological roots embedded in its rituals. The festival commemorates the Daksha Yaga, the mythic sacrifice where Sati, Shiva’s consort, immolated herself—an event that changed cosmic history in Hindu lore.

Each ritual day at Kottiyoor is marked by breathtaking spiritual ceremonies. From the Elaneer Vayppu (offering of tender coconuts) to the Rohini Aaradhana, where the priest embraces the self-manifested Shiva Linga, the experience is both raw and moving.

Kottiyoor Vaisakha Mahotsavam (File Image: X/ @KeralaTourism)

Another unmissable moment is the Ezhunnallippu procession where elephants carry idols of Shiva and Parvati through the forest, followed by a ceremonial feast for the elephants known as Aanayootu.

A Journey into Sacred Nature

The setting of the Kottiyoor festival is as mesmerizing as its mythology. Nestled in a dense forest at the foot of the Western Ghats, the area comes alive during the monsoon. The Baveli River surges with new life, the forest teems with mist and birdsong, and the temple grounds become a sanctified space of divine energy and ecological harmony.

Kottiyoor isn’t just a destination—it’s an experience where nature, legend, and devotion converge.

Why You Should Visit

Whether you're a devotee, a seeker of India's lesser-known spiritual sites, or simply a traveler drawn to culture and festivals rooted in ancient wisdom, the Kottiyoor festival offers something deeply unique. Carry home an Odapoo as a sacred souvenir, witness rituals unseen elsewhere in the Hindu world, and immerse yourself in the harmony of humans and nature in God’s Own Country.