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Permanent Pictorial Cancellation (PPC) issued from Kalpathi Sub Post Office, PIN 678003, Palakkad district, Kerala. The design depicts the Kalpathi Rathotsavam — the grand chariot procession of the Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple at Kalpathi, showing decorated temple chariots (rathas) being drawn through the streets by devotees. The cancellation is circular, bearing the post office name, PIN code, and date slug. Current status: active.
The Kalpathi Rathotsavam is one of Kerala's most celebrated temple festivals, held annually in November at the Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple in Kalpathi village, Palakkad. The temple, believed to be over 700 years old, is dedicated to Lord Viswanatha (Shiva) and Visalakshi (Parvati), and is located within Kalpathi Agaraharam — a well-preserved Tamil Brahmin settlement listed among Asia's heritage villages. The festival, which includes Vedic recitations, Carnatic music, and a grand ratha procession, is a rare surviving example of ancient South Indian temple festival traditions. The chariot festival has drawn comparisons to Buddhist festival processions, with references traced to the travels of the Chinese monk Fa-Hien. It represents the living cultural and religious heritage of the Tamil Brahmin community of Palakkad and has been recognized as a significant intangible cultural heritage of Kerala.