Kalpathy in Keralam’s Palakkad awaits grand spectacle of chariot confluence on November 16

The chariot of the Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy temple being taken out in a ceremonial procession on Sunday as the Kalpathy car festival entered its penultimate day.

Kalpathy’s heritage streets witnessed a steady flow of devotees on Sunday (November 15, 2026) as the annual chariot festival entered its ninth day, with the temple chariots making their way through the agraharams ahead of the festival’s grand finale on Monday (November 16, 2026).

Thousands of devotees, including visitors from neighbouring States, gathered to witness the processions of Sree Visalakshi Sametha Viswanathaswamy Temple, Kalpathy, and Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy Temple, New Kalpathy.

The holiday crowds swelled through the day, with devotees taking turns to pull the massive wooden chariots. Pulling the chariots is considered a sacred privilege, and people from different walks of life joined the procession.

The streets of the agraharams were decorated with traditional rice-flour kolams as the village prepared for the finale, the much-awaited meeting of the temple chariots. The event, scheduled for Monday evening, is the high point of the annual festival.

Four temples are taking part in the celebrations: Sree Visalakshi Sametha Viswanathaswamy Temple, Kalpathy; Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy Temple, New Kalpathy; Sree Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple, Old Kalpathy; and Sree Prasanna Maha Ganapathy Temple, Chathapuram.

The chariots of Viswanathaswamy, Ganesha and Subramanya resumed their procession from Achampadi on Sunday evening. They travelled through Chathapuram village before reaching the premises of the Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple, where they halted for the night. Their procession will resume on Monday.

Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy also continued its journey through New Kalpathy. Before being placed on the chariot, the deity was taken to the Viswanathaswamy temple to receive the blessings of Shiva and Parvati. Following the morning rituals, devotees pulled the chariot through the village. Thousands also attended the traditional feast at the temple.

The Manthakkara chariot resumed its journey in the evening and halted near Kshipra Prasada Ganapathy Temple.

On Monday evening, the chariot processions will resume their journey towards Thermutti near the Viswanathaswamy temple, where all four chariots will come together at around 6.30 p.m.

The confluence of deities, with the towering chariots illuminated by rows of lamps and facing one another against the fading light of dusk, is expected to draw thousands of devotees.

The meeting of the chariots, a tradition that has been the defining moment of Kalpathy’s annual car festiva for generations, will mark the festival’s grand climax.

The celebrations will continue into the early hours of Tuesday, when the deities will be taken out in a ceremonial procession at around 2.30 a.m. The festival will formally come to a close at 9 a.m., with the ceremonial lowering of the flags at all four temples, bringing this year’s car fest to an end.