The annual Kalpathy chariot festival, set to commence on November 7, is preparing for a grand and seamless celebration thanks to a collaborative effort from various government departments. The district administration has issued clear directives, ensuring every agency works in tandem to guarantee a successful event.
District Collector M.S. Madhavikutty emphasized the critical role of each department in making sure the festival unfolds without any issues. With a massive influx of visitors anticipated from across Kerala, meticulous planning and execution are paramount.
This vibrant 10-day festival reaches its climax from November 14, when the magnificent chariots from the four prominent temples begin their procession through the streets of Kalpathy. Expect particularly large gatherings on November 14, 15, and 16, with the grand convergence of these chariots on the evening of November 16 being the ultimate highlight.
During the final three days of the festival, revered deities from four significant temples—Sree Visalakshi Sametha Viswanatha Swamy Temple in Kalpathy, Sree Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple in Old Kalpathy, Mandakkarai Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple in New Kalpathy, and Sree Prasanna Maha Ganapathy Temple in Chathappuram—will be ceremoniously carried on their chariots in spectacular processions.
The Police Department, tasked with maintaining law and order, managing traffic, and controlling crowds, has been instructed to enlist ample volunteers and to develop a comprehensive emergency evacuation strategy.
Municipal authorities have received directives to regulate the number of commercial establishments granted licenses for the event. Their responsibilities also include daily waste removal, thorough cleaning of the Kalpathy river bank before the festival, road maintenance, preventing encroachments, and ensuring overall food safety and sanitation standards.
The Food Safety Department is mandated to strictly enforce all relevant health and safety standards. Concurrently, the Fire and Rescue Services Department will deploy a dedicated unit to Kalpathy throughout the festival period.
The Health Department’s duties include guaranteeing sufficient ambulance services and establishing a central control room. Meanwhile, the Kerala Water Authority is responsible for repairing all public taps and ensuring a continuous, 24-hour water supply throughout the festivities.
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has been directed to secure any loose power cables and raise low-hanging ones, thereby ensuring unobstructed passage for the majestic chariots.
For the elephants participating in the festival, the Animal Husbandry Department will verify their health and fitness, while the Social Forestry Division will ensure strict adherence to all domestic elephant care regulations.
The Revenue Department holds the primary responsibility for the festival’s overall coordination, with the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) appointed as the nodal officer and the Palakkad Tahsildar serving as the assistant nodal officer.
The festival organizing committee, comprising representatives from the four temples, has been instructed to install surveillance cameras at strategic locations. They must also inform the police beforehand about individuals selected to pull the chariots. Furthermore, the organizers are required to arrange three additional ambulances, complementing those provided by the Health Department.