Aranmula Vallasadya: a Feast Offered to Parthasarathy

What happens

1. A devotee offers the Vallasadya as a vazhipadu, an offering to Parthasarathy. The crew of one of the village snake boats, the palliyodams, is fed in the devotee's name.
2. The oarsmen row to the temple, offer Nirapara and walk around the temple singing Vanchi Paattu, the boat songs in praise of Krishna.
3. The feast is served on plantain leaves after the midday Ucha Pooja. Kerala Tourism counts over 70 traditional dishes; its temple page and Wikipedia say up to 64.
4. As the meal goes on, the crew ask for dishes in song. Devotees believe Parthasarathy comes to receive the offering, so every dish asked for is served.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, keralatourism.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Where families go

• 

  Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

  Aranmula

  The feasts are served at this temple of Krishna as Parthasarathy, on the bank of the Pamba, to the crews of the snake boats.

  Timings and guide
• 

  Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple

  Chengannur

  Families can add the five Pancha Pandava temples around Chengannur; by custom the round starts here, at Yudhishthira's temple.

  Timings and guide
• 

  Thiruppuliyur Mahavishnu Temple

  Puliyur

  The Pancha Pandava temple linked to Bhima, near Chengannur.

  Timings and guide
• 

  Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple

  Thiruvanvandoor

  The Pancha Pandava temple linked to Nakula, the stop after Aranmula on the customary round.

  Timings and guide
• 

  Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple

  Changanassery

  The Pancha Pandava temple linked to Sahadeva, near Changanassery, where the round ends.

  Timings and guide

When to go

Kerala Tourism gives the season as mid-August to early October, but in 2026 it was reported to run from 19 July to 16 September. Dates change each year.

Sources: keralatourism.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Before you go

• BookingThe Aranmula Palliyoda Seva Sangam, the boat community body, takes Vallasadya bookings on its own site. Book only there; we do not take bookings.
• SafetyFeasts can be called off when the Pamba floods. In August 2026 the Sangam cancelled two days and moved those bookings to later feasts.
• Good to knowKSRTC's budget tourism cell runs Pancha Pandava temple trips that include the Vallasadya; in 2026 it brought more than 400 devotees a day.
• Good to knowExpect crowds. Wikipedia puts attendance at one to two lakh people a year.

• OfficialAranmula Parthasarathy temple, Kerala Tourism (Official)
• OfficialAranmula Vallasadya, Kerala Tourism (Official)

Rituals, fees and timings are set by each temple. Where the temple sells a seva or ticket, book it only on its official channel.

Sources: aranmulaboatrace.com, aranmulaboatrace.com, onmanorama.com, en.wikipedia.org · checked 30 Oct 2026