Ancient ritual continues at Poonjar Palace as Mangaladevi festival draws devotees

As the annual Mangaladevi Temple festival was held on Friday (May 1, 2026), the Poonjar Palace—once the seat of royalty in the erstwhile Poonjar Kingdom—continued its sacred tradition of the Manthily Pooja. This age-old ritual is closely intertwined with the revival of the Mangaladevi Temple, an act the royal family believes was pivotal to their survival and legacy. According to legend, the decline of the Poonjar dynasty began after the original temple, which was once under the kingdom’s jurisdiction, fell into ruin.

​Muralidhara Varma, a 70-year-old member of the Poonjar royal family, explained that the monthly ritual, known as the “Pathmamittu Vilakkuvachu Pooja,” is conducted in the Thevarapura of the palace on the last Friday of every month. “Priests from the palace perform the pooja, and I’ve witnessed this tradition since my childhood,” he said. “The Poonjar Palace shares a deep spiritual bond with the Mangaladevi Temple. Every year, members of our royal family travel to attend the temple festival. Likewise, trustees of the temple often visit the Poonjar Valiya Raja. Reviving the temple remains a heartfelt wish of our family,” said Mr. Varma.

​Historical records suggest that the tradition of the pooja began following a Rashipreshna (an astrological consultation). The book Poonjar Rajakudumba Charithravalokanam, by P.R. Ramavarma Valiya Raja, recounts that the temple was attacked in June 1772 by a military commander under Hyder Ali, who was lured by rumors of hidden wealth. “However,” the book notes, “as the temple was situated in a remote area and no treasure was stored there, the enraged commander destroyed it entirely.” By October of that year, the Poonjar king was compelled to sign an agreement with Hyder Ali, who is believed to have later rebuked his commander for the destruction.