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Rathotsavam
The main festival in the temple is the Rathothsavam, the car festival, in the month of Phalguna (March-April). On the day of the Uthram Star in the Bright half of the month, the temple flag is hoisted and the care festival continues from that day to the day of the Moolam Star - for nine days.
Surrounded by the majestic mountains and the blooming forest with varied hues and fragrance, the shrine of Sri Mookambika invokes the springs of beauty in human heart filling it with a joy divine. Thousands join the Rathothsavam, by drawing the great chariot of the Divine Mother, symbolizing the need of a joint effort of mankind to bring about a new civilization based on a higher spiritual vision of life. The temple festivals suggest that man should make these inner depths a great center of festivity, of the joy of Self-discovery. He has to make his mind a pit of Yajna fire of selfless work.He has to offer the negativity of his selfishness in that fire. From that fire will manifest the Divine Mother, the all-loving Supreme, who allays all fears, who makes man the Man Divine.
How well Sri Lalithaa Sahasranaama Stothram, the famous hymn of 1000 divine names addressed to Divine Mother describes this manifestation:
Chidaghnikunda sambhoothaa
Devakaarya Samudyataa
"Prostrations to Thee,who manifests in the yajana fire pit of consciousness,who helps fulfill the Goal Divine!"-The goal of the evolution of a super human civilization,when human heart will turn to be a scene of freedom and festivity.The temple festivals remind man of this destined possibility.
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