| Kavasseri/Kavaserry Kavaserry |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Palakkad |
| Nearest city | Palakkad |
| Parliamentary constituency | Alathur(SC) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Website | www.parakkat.org/ |
Kavasseri is a small village in the Alathur Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India.
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Kavasseri is situated on the Alathur-Pazhayannur Road. Kavasseri is about 3 km from Alathur and 37 km from Palakkad. The nearest airport is in [Nedumbasseri and Coimbatore]] and the nearest railway station is Palakkad Junction.
River Gayatri, a tributary river to Bharathappuzha, passes through the village.
The main economic activity of the people is cultivation (Paddy) Majority of the population is of Hindus. The village is farm based. Sree Parakkad Bhagavathy temple, Ganapathi temple, Sree Krishna temple and Ayyappa temple are the Hindu shrines. Out of these, Parakkad Bhagavathy temple adorns the cap of captain.
Kavasseri is a group of 6 Brahmin villages. These villages are Nellithara gramam, Oattupperai gramam, Easwara pattar gramam, Venkachi gramam (old name new name is Mullakkal gramam),Kongalakode gramam and Naanu Pattar gramam. The settlement had over 200 households. Nelllitherai Gramam had more of Otta Madhoms where as rest were typical row houses. The Oattuperai gramam got its name obviously due to houses there getting tiled (Oatu = tile) roof earlier than others. Each gramam had their own gramadevatha or deity with temple for Mahaganapathy, Siva, Krishna, Ayyappa etc. The annual utsavams for Siva and MahaGanapathy temples and Sasthapreethy are jointly conducted by all the six villages together and well attended.
The famous Parakkad Bhagavathi Temple is common for all the 6 villages, and is open to all communities now and is run by the Devaswom Board. The Pratishta here is of SapthaMathakkal and main deity is "Parasakthi" in the form of "Varahi". The main idol is of Wood (Pilavu or Jack fruit tree). Hence along with this there is also Prathishta in "Linga form" in the normal granite for which Abhishekam is performed. The biggest annual festival is the Pooram. Kavasseri Pooram is supposed to be next best to Thrissur Pooram and a major attraction used to be Pancha Vadyam and sinkari melam. There is of course vediKKettu, Elephants, Ezhunnallippu etc. This is an annual function held in the month of March for this famous Bhagavathi Temple at Parakkad. In the year 2000, Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in the Parakkad Bhagavathi Temple and the Krishna temple on a grand scale. Most of the villages retain the old character and houses are still retained by the Brahmin community except in one of the villages.
Sree Parakkattu Bhagavati, who resides in the Sree Parakkattu Temple, is the presiding deity of Kavasseri. The temple is surrounded by thick forests. The main festival in the temple is Pooram. It falls on the Pooram star in the month of Meenam in the Malayalam Calendar. The Pooram Festival is an important event every year, in which three villages participate, namely Vavilliapuram, Kazhani and Kavasseri.
Seven days prior to the Pooram Festival, its start is marked by the performance of the Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) at Koottala. Then, every day until the festival itself starts, there exists a festive mood in the three villages. During these days, Niramala and Vilakku are performed in the temple. On the day of the festival, it is inaugurated by the Eaaduvedi, which is performed first by Vavilliapuram, followed by Kazhani and finally Kavasseri. Then an elephant's procession starts from Koottala. The procession passes through Ganapathi Temple, Eaduvedialu, Kaalichira, Moolichira, Chembarathi and finally reaches the Sree Parakkattu Bhagavati Temple.
In the night there are several programs at the temple. Night Pooram starts with the arrival of Vellakuthira and the procession from Kavassery Kammanthara (village of Artisans). The fireworks are performed, followed by a chariot by Vavilliapuram, then from Kazhani and then from Kavasseri. The procession accompanying the chariot usually consists of each village's representatives. The next day, there is a Pooja at the temple after which it remains closed for seven days. On the seventh day, to mark the end of the festival, Kooravali is performed, meaning the pulling back down of the flag.
In addition to Pooram Festival, there are other festivals such as Ekadasi Vilakku at Kongalakode Sree Krishna Temple, Vishnu Vela at Sri Ayyappan Temple and the Mariamman Vilakku.
Its believed that, In order to get Shaapa Moksha from the Goddess, the king of Palakkad, who has lived in Meledam, gave the paddy fields (of kalichira, moolichira, chembarahty) and the nearby areas in the name of the Goddess Parakkady for the poojas and other activities. After some time, the king gave the administration to thiruvadi Kodanath Nair Tharavadu. Then after its been entrusted to mullakal village Pattali (Brahmin Family). Goddess Parakkady came in the dream of Krishna Pattar Pattamali Iyer and directed him to build the temple for her where he would find her sword. The next day, the Pattali family along with village elders, searched the villages of Kavesseri and found the sword. The temple that stands majestic today was built where they found the sword. When the land reform law came, this administration ended, and was taken over by the Government of Kerala and put under the administration of Devasom board. Now the temple is been administered by the trustees and managers under the governance of Devasom board. In the olden days, the temple has almost 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of paddy field. When the land law implemented, all the paddy field is been lost to the common people. Now the daily activities is been carried on with the annuity amount received from the government of kerala, Devotees deposits, donation and Vazhipadu.
Myth 1
The almighty, Pallikkadi, parakkadi, kunnaikadi, and kodikkady named 4 goddesses together started from a place called Thiruvadi. The myth goes like, after a long journey, the goddess Pallikkadi has settled down in a place called, Paruvassery in Kannabra, the goddess Kunnakkadi settled down in Thennilapuram, the goddess Kodikkadi has settled down in vadakkancheri. But the Goddess Parakkady, after resting in Chakyar kodoth, in kavassery, proceeded to a place where PARAYA community people have lived. Its been believed that the goddess Parakkady has went in to a home in that place, and told the people that, the goddess want to settle down there and the people should conduct poojas and festivals there. But the poor people replied to the goddess that, they were very poor people and they are not financially sound to conduct poojas and festivals. Its said that, by hearing that, The goddess gave a “Kuzhal” (a musical instrument like trumpet) and few other musical instruments and asked them to think of the goddess and go, there by they will be able to get all the things what they required to conduct poojas and festivals. Then the goddess left the place after seeing the in-hygiene surroundings and settled down in the place where the existing temple situates.
Myth 2
Its been believed that, one day, when the Goddess was walking in the dense forest, one Manthravadi was coming along the way who was going for fishing. With the powerful RAKSHA which the manthravadi was wearing, he was able to concur the goddess and asked her to carry the fish carrier (kooda) and walk with him. That manthravadi was believed to be Chathu ammaman of Kulangara house. One day, when the manthravadi was on his way to fishing, and lost his powerful raksha, Devi shown him the real power of her and killed Chathu ammaman, and cut in to 18.5 pieces and thrown in to different places. Those places has been asked to raise the flag post before 7 days of mamangam which is been held in that place. The goddess also ordered that, in response to the activity of chathu ammaman, the ladies of Kulangara family should carry the goddess’s vigraham, and should come to all the 18.5 flag posts. That’s called “OORVALAM”. That activity has become the right of Kulangara family. There are many such myths regarding this temple, but the main fact is that, the Goddess is so powerful and her blessings have always brought the disciples all the goodness and the good things they have asked for.
Alathur is around 4 km away from Kavasseri. Alathur lies on NH 47 highway connecting Palghat and Thrissur. Alathur houses some colleges which serves as a source for nearby villages.
Padur is around 5 km from Kavasseri. The famous festival of Padur is Padur Vela.
Athipotta, 4 km away from Kavasseri is famous for Mangottu Kavu Temple.
Pazhayannur is famous for the Bhagavathy Temple and Shiva Temple. It is about 13 km from Kavasseri.
Thiruvilwamala, also spelt as Thiruvilluamala is famous for Vilwadrinatha Temple, which is among the rare Sri Rama temples in Kerala. Thiruviwamala has many other temples of ancient years and have more than four Shiva temples. Ivor Madom, the Krishna temple, is famous for the ceremonies performed in order to ensure peace for the soul of the dead.
Kunissery is around 11 km from Kavasseri. Kunisseri is known outside for its famous Kummatti festival celebrated in Pookulangara Bhagawathi temple during March/April. The Kummatti is performed in front of the procession of 10 tuskers. Another attraction of Kummatti is a folk art called Ponnani Kali.
Chitoor is around 20 km from Kavasseri and close to palakkad. Chitoor is the home for a beautiful bhagavathy temple and shiva temple.
Kuzhalmannam is about 20 km from Kavasseri. Every Saturday, at the weekly market at Kuzhalmannam, cattle are traded in large numbers. Cattle are brought from Tamil Nadu to be sold to Trissur district and beyond. The southern districts of Kerala are major consumers of beef. The sight of cattle bundled into trucks without any consideration for their safety or comfort is really distressing, but there has been no action from any animal rights group or SPCA so far.
Pallassena about 30 km from Kavasseri houses the famous Meenkulathi Bhagavathy Temple. The route map to Pallassena is Kavasseri->Alathur->PuthuNagaram->Pallassena. Pallassena is close to kollengode and koduvayur. People from districts of Coimbatore, Pollachi and nearby places in Tamil Nadu throngs the temple.
Vazhenkada is around 50 km from Kavasseri. The route map for reaching Vazhenkada is Kavasseri->Thiruvilvamala->Ottapalam-> Cherupalassery->Thootha->Vazhenkada.Vazhenkada has a picturesque temple for SRI NARASIMHAMOORTHY.
Nelliampathi is around 40 km from Kavasseri. Nelliampathi also known as Poor's people Ooty is beautiful and gorgeous. The trek route from Kaikatty(first town of nelliampathi) to Manpara hill is awe-inspiring. The route map for reaching Nelliampathi is Kavasseri->Vadakkanchery->Nemmara->Nelliampathi.
Pothundi Dam is about 23 km from Kavasseri. Pothundi Dam is an irrigation dam constructed in the 19th century. Nelliampathi hills can be seen from Pothundi Dam.
Mayilaadumpara about 10 km from Kavasseri is the home of Choolanur Peacock Sanctuary. Sprawling over 500 hectares of thick forest, this sanctuary is a home to around 200 peacocks.The Sanctuary offers shelter to diverse and rich species of birds. There are over 100 diverse species of avifauna in the Sanctuary. The route map is Kavasseri->Kazhini Chungam-> Athipotta -> A board after athipotta indicates a right turn into Mayilaadumpara. You can contact the forest officials there to make a trek into the forests.
Nearest Railway Junction is Palakkad Railway Station.
The nearest international airport is Coimbatore Airport, which is about 52 km from Palakkad and about 85 km from Kavassery. Coimbatore airport has connecting flights to Singapore, Sharjah, Colombo, apart from major Indian cities.
As of 2001 India census, Kavasseri had a population of 15564 with 7458 males and 8106 females with females constituting 52% of the population.
There is one higher secondary school (K C P H S S) in Kottaparambu Kavasseri and a number of primary schools in Kavasseri. Sree Narayana Guru College (S.N. College), B.S. S. B.Ed. Training College & Crescent College of Nursing all located at Alathur are the nearby institutes for higher learning.