The Major Vellayani Devi Temple is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali.

[3] The temple structure has a bronze roof with traditional art work and carries Dravidian architecture.

The circulating notion about this is that the antler serves as a medium to invoke the spirit of the divinity at a new-built temple.

[11] Legend says that a Kollan (blacksmith) named Kelan Kulasekhara saw a frog with divine spirit of Goddess near Vellayani Lake.

They brought the matter to the Nair chieftains of the locality and with their help Kulasekhara consecrated the Thiru Mudi (idol) in which divine spirit is evoked.

[7] Darika was a demon who received a boon from Brahma which granted that he would never be defeated by any man living in any of the fourteen worlds of Hindu mythology.

Shiva agreed, circumventing Brahma's boon by declaring that Darika would be killed by the goddess Kali.

The most important rituals associated with the Kaliyoottu festival are Kalamkaval, Uchabali, Dikkubali, Paranettu and Nilathil Poru.

During Kaliyoottu Vathi dressed as Bhadrakali will perform the Kalamkaval ceremony wearing the "Thanka Thirumudi".

Thanka Thirumudi " The main deity who comes out from the Mudippura and visits all the four directions (Dikkubali) insearch of "Darika" (The Evil).

Finally, the goddess finds Darika near the temple on her journey on air (Paranettu) and calls him for an open war (Nilathil poru).

On the nilathil poru day Devi kills Darika and ensures peace and prosperity to her devotees.

It is believed that the Goddess Bhadrakali searches her enemy demon, Daaruka in all directions before putting him to death.

Kalamkaval is the ritual in which chief priest, carries the idol on his head and performs some trance like dances until he is unconscious.

All people believe that the priest gets strength to carry on the trance with the idol on his head, due to the blessings of the Devi enshrined in the temple.

During the climactic moment of this ceremony, the demon Daarika (the man with the symbolic crown in the foreground) weeps and begs for mercy from the Goddess.

Pongala Festival at Vellayani Devi Temple is celebrated during the Malayalam month of Meenam on the Aswathy Nakshatram (Aswini Nakshatra).