The Sree Vallabha temple is situated in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta District. The
Uthraseebali festival is celebrated for one day on the Makayiram asterism in
Meenam (The Bhagavathies from the near temples (Thiru Alamthuruthi, Padappadu,
Karunattukavu) will proceed to the Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple on the eighth
day of the festival falling on Uthram day. It is believed that these
Bhagavathies are the sisters of Sreevallabhan. Their entries to the Sreevallabha Temple is through the north gate
which is opened only once in a year to permit their entry.
Sreevallabha temple is one of the
most important pilgrim centre for Vaishnavites all over India. Kathakali, the
classical dance of Kerala, is performed almost all nights in this temple as
offerings by devotees. Many foreigners here comes and research about
Kathakali. It is interesting to note that the name Tiruvalla comes from the
word "Thiru Valla Vazh", named after the river Manimala which was
known as Valla puzha, suggesting that Tiruvalla was the mouth of river Manimala
and hence was known as Valla vai(vai in old malayalam means mouth of
river).Because of this Sri Vallabha temple was called "Thiru
Vallavayappan" which later reformed as "Sri Vallabhan" Thiru
Vallabha temple,
Annually
two festivals are held, one in February - March and another in March - April. The
Sree Vallaba Temple governed a Vedic School with one thousand students and one
hundred teachers. A granite pillar carved out of single piece with an image of
Garuda on its top stands in front of the temple. The pillar, which serves as a
flag staff, is 60ft high and is made of granite.
