Say Kottarakkara Ganapathy temple and what comes to mind is the unniyappam – a rice-based snack prepared as an offering at the temple. The main deity here is Lord Shiva but it is the presence of his son, the elephant god Ganesha that brings people to the temple. Goddess Parvati, Lord Muruga, Nagaraja and Lord Ayyappan are also consecrated at the temple. The temple was formerly known as Kizhakkekara Siva Kshetram, kshetram meaning temple in Malayalam.
Credit for the idol of Lord Ganesha installed at the temple goes to the legendary carpenter Perumthachan. In India, the elephant god is believed to be capable of removing any barriers standing in the way of a happy life. Devotees flock to Kottarakkara Ganapathy to have obstacles removed and so they make offerings of unniyappam, made with rice flour, coconut, ghee, sugar and ripe banana (kadali pazham). Ganesha though is believed to love indulging in the kadali variety of banana and coconuts.
The Kottarakkara Ganapathy temple also has the distinction of being the place where Kerala’s art form Kathakali debuted. Prominent festivals celebrated here include Vinayaka Chathurthi, Meda Thiruvathira, Mandalachirappu, Shivratri and Navratri, among others. Vinayaka Chathurthi is celebrated to honour Lord Vinayaka's birthday, which falls on the Chathurthi day of the Malayalam month of Chingam.
