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Mandala Utsavam is the forty-one day annual festival at the
Lokanarkavu Bhagavathy
Temple near Vadakara in Kozhikode.
This is the only temple where a peculiar folk dance called Thacholikali
is presented. The dance, performed during the festival resembles the
martial art Kalarippayattu and is
presented by a sect of people known as Theeyampadi Kurup.
The temple, believed to be 3000 years old, finds frequent mention in the
Northern Ballads as the presiding deity goddess Bhadrakali is the patron
of warriors and war and is worshipped with martial art performances.