Bharani Utsavam or Kumbhabharani Utsavam is the major festival celebrated at Chettikulangara Temple in Kerala. Bharani Utsavam 2012 date is February 28. Bharani Utsavam 2011 date was 10 March 2011. Bhagavathi Temple is located in Alappuzha district of Kerala. The festival falls on Bharani Nakshatra day which comes in Kumbha month as per Malayalam Calendar Kolla Varsham. It is popularly known as Kumbha Mela of South India.
The major highlights of Kumbhabarani are – Kuthiyottam and Kettukazha. Kuthiyottam is a ritualistic dance offered daily to the presiding deity of Chettikulangara Temple which starts a week before the festival of Kumbhabharani. Kettukazha is a structure built in paddy fields and dragged towards the temple on the festival day. Millions of devotees are expected to visit the temple during the festival of Kumbha Bharani this year, 2012.