Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram is one of the famous temples located in Kerala. This Ganapati temple is located in Kottarakkara which is 25 km from Kollam. The temple is visited by Hindus and non-Hindus as well. It is the family of Lord Shiva. Kottarakkara was the capital of the famous Ilayidathu swaroopam. The place that is now called as Mahaganapathy temple was actually Kizhakkekara Shiva Temple. Here the main deity is Lord Shiva that faces the east direction. However, the temple is now famous as a Ganapathy temple rather than a Shiva temple. Some of the deities that are installed in the Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram are Parama Shiva, Parvati Devi, Sree Maha Ganapati, Sree Murukan, Sree Ayyappan, and Nagaraja. The main offerings of the temple are Unni Appam Udayasthamanapooja, Mahaganapathi homam and Pushpanjali.

Legend of Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram
According to the legend of Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram the idol of Lord Ganesha was places here by Perumthachan. Once there was a consecration ceremony in the Padinjattinkara Shiva temple. At this time Perumthachan was carving on a tree. Surprisingly he carved out an image of Lord Ganesha. He then asked the priest to install it in the temple. But the priest refused saying that it the temple was dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Perumthachan then went to Kizhakkekkara Shiva temple and requested the priest to consecrate the image. The priest agreed to his proposal and the image was installed in this temple.

Festivals of Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram
The Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram celebrates many festivals during which the temple is decorated beautifully with lights and flowers. Some of the festivals that are celebrated here are:

Vinayaka Chathurthy
The birth date of Lord Vinayaka's falls on the chathurthy day of the bright half of chinga masa. This day is celebrated with great Mahaganapathy Homam, using 1008 coconuts. Apart from Unniyappam, Modhakam is also offered to Lord Ganesha. The other major ceremonies that are also celebrated are sarvaiswarya pooja, gajapooja, annadanam etc.

Ayilyam Makam
This festival is celebrated for offering special Poojas to the Nagadaivanjal. The Nagaprathishta was done by Pambummekkattu Thanthrikal.

Navaratri
Every year the temple hosts the grand festival of Navaratri. Thousands throng to the temple to perform the Vidyarambham of their little one's.

Prathishtadinam (Cosecration day)
This festival is celebrated on the Uthrittathy nakshatra of Makara masa. Few important events take place during the festival like the Bhagavatha Sapthaham, Devibhaghavatha Navaham, Annadhanam.

Thyppoyam
During the festival of Thyppoyam Kavdiyattam and other rituals are performed in the Muruga temple.

Shivaratri
Shivaratri is celebrated in the month of Kumbham. During the festival many special poojas are also conducted for Lord Siva.

Vishu
The Vishu festival is very important for the malayalees. This day marks a prosperous beginning for them. People from nook and corners of the area come here to seek the blessings of Lord Ganapathy.

Medathiruvathira
This is the famous day of Thirvarattu. The large scale festival celebrations of eleven days come to an end on this day. Kettukazhcha forms the major attraction of the day.