The 10-day festival at the Sree Krishna temple here will begin with an elephant race (aanayottam) on Monday.
The customary race begins from the premises of Manjulal in the afternoon and concludes in front of the east entrance to the temple.
Earlier, the elephants used to enter the nalambalam and move round the temple thrice. However, taking the safety of the devotees into consideration, this time the race will end at the eastern nada, said devaswom chairman, T.V. Chandramohan.
The elephant that wins the race gets the right to carry the temple idol, during the various
ceremonies, for a year. Kazhcha sheelevi which will be held every morning and evening will begin the next day.
Chakyarkooth will be enacted all 10 days at the temple koothamabalam. Apart from this, percussion performances like keli and madhalapattu and the art of paadakam will be performed as part of the festival.
Renowned percussionists Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, Annamanada Parameswara Marar and Mattannur Sankarankutty will lead a variety of performances during these days.
On the ninth day, pallivetta will be held and the festival will conclude with the aaratt on March 14.
A variety of cultural programmes have also been arranged at the Melpathur auditorium as part of the festival.