Festivals and Fairs of Kasargod district, Kerala
There are different fairs, festivals and folk arts present in the district. Some of the names are as follows:
Kasargod can be called as the land of charity, which is rich in folk-culture, visual arts as well as festivals. There are different religions, groups and communities in their historical evolution, which have subscribed to the growth of a dream. It is like panorama of folk art and visual art forms in the region.
Some of the festivals of folk arts are religious and are highly ritualistic. They also incorporate dance, music, colours and light. There may be regional variations in respect of rituals and songs but the visual appearance has no such variations. Some of the famous folk arts of the district are Theyyam, Kolkali, Poorakkali, Yakshaganam, Kallampattu, Porattu, Oppana, Mappillapattu, etc. Kasaragod is also famous for its Cockfight, and Buffullo race. Kasaragod is a land of temples, mosques and churches. Boothasthanam of Hindus, Makham Uroos of Muslims and Perunnals of Christians are the famous. The festivals of Boothasthanams are known as Kalliyattam or Theyyam.
The description of some of the important festivals are given below:
Hindu Festivals:
Sarvajanika Ganeshotsavam at Kasargod Town:
This festival is celebrated during September every year in connection with Ganesh Chathurthi. The local people under the banner of Sarvajanika Ganeshotsava Samithi, Kasaragod, mainly celebrate this. At this place a big idol of Lord Ganesha made of clay is adorned for five or seven days conducting poojas and on the last day the idol is taken with a procession through the town and to immerse in the Temple tank. This festival attracts thousands of devotees. Ganesh Chathurthi day has been declared as public holiday in Kasargod District.
Annual Festival at Anantheswara Temple, Manjeswaram:
Usually between the 3rd week of November and 3rd week of December the annual car festival of the temple is celebrated.. It is also called Shashti festival, which attracts thousands of devotees and pilgrims.
Madhur Srimad Anantheswara Vinayaka Temple annual festival:
Every year during the month of March or April the seven days long special festival Moodappa seva has been celebrated. It is conducted periodically in view of the huge expenses involved. A large number of devotees attend the festival every year.
Mujamkavu Parthasarathi Kshetram Annual Festival:
The temple is situated in Ednad village of Kasaragod taluk. This is placed at four Km east of Kumbla. The annual festival lasts for seven days during February every year. On the day of 'Thulava Sankramam' a large number of devotees attend the temple for Theertha Snanam. It is said that a holy bath in this cures skin diseases.
Kumbala Sree Gopalakrishna Temple:
In this temple a five-day long festival is celebrated during the month of January every year. Display of fire works at the end of the festival is very famous regarding this.
Adoor Mahalingeswara:
Annual Festival of the Temple starts with Dhwajarohanam on the 27th of Kumbam, which is celebrated during the month of Feb-March every year. This festival concludes with the holy dip in the waters of Payaswini on the 4th of Meenam or April every year. The Makara Sankramam is an important festival that is celebrated in the temple when a Sahasra Kumbabishekam with feeding of a large number of people takes place.
Mallikarjuna Temple, Kasargod:
One of the most important festivals of Kasargod town is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The annual festival in the temple is celebrated in the month of March and it always attracts huge crowds. This festival lasts for five days. According to the Legends the idol of Lord Shiva was adorned by Arjuna.
Mallam Durga Parameswari temple:
This temple is situated near Bovikanam in Muliyar village that is about 10 km away from Kasargod. The temple is dedicated to Durga Parameswari. This is the only one temple from where the devotees get daily annadanam or food. A large number of pilgrim especially women folk visits the temple regularly. Tuesday and Friday are very important days in the temple though everyday they worship. The annual festival lasts for 7 days, which comes in the month of February-March every year.
Thalaklayi Subrahmanya Temple, Paravanadukkam:
This is situated about 5 km away to the south of Kasargod town. This temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya. In this temple the Shasthi festival that is celebrated during the month of December-January every year is very famous. This festival attracts large number of devotees.
Kizhur Sri Sastha Temple, Chandragiri:
This is an ancient temple situated at Chandragiri, which is about 6 km away from Kasaragod town. This is also the head quarters of Anjooru Nayanmars. This is actually the troupe of five hundred professional singers sing jointly in praise of the greatness of the deity. This temple has close connections with Trikkannad Siva temple. On the second Saturday of November the dignitaries of all the Kazhakams of Saliyas from Pattuvam to Panamboor or present Mangalore known as Pathinalu Nagaram assemble here annually.
Trikkannad Siva Temple:
The temple is situated on the seashore within one km of the Bekal Bridge. The Pandyan Kallu, a rock rising above the sea near the temple is of historical importance. Legend says that when the Pandya rulers tried to attack the temple through the sea, the deity burned the ship. The burnt ship later became a rock, which is known as Pandyan Kallu. This temple is also known as Dakshina Kasi.
The one-week festival in the temple starts with the Kodiyettam or flag hoisting during the month of March-April every year. Ashtami Villakku and Pallivetta are associated with the festival. Thousand of devotees from all over the district attend the festival. This is the only one temple, which has its face to the west.
Palakkunnu Shree Bhagavathy Kshetram is situated at one km. north of Trikkannad. This is located on the Kasargod-Kanhangad road or Chandragiri route. It is one of the famous temples of the Thiyya Community. The treasure house of the temple is situated near the railway gate of Kottikkulam railway station. Important deity is Mootha Bhagavathy or Kurumba Bhagavathi. Ilaya Bhagavathy, Dhandan, Ghandakarnam,Vishnu Moorthy and Gulikan are the sub deities. Padinhatta Chamundi, and Moovalamkuzhi Chamundi, are also worshipped in the Treasure House.
The famous festival of the temple is Bharani Maholsavam, which comes in the month of March every year. some of the other festivals which are celebrated here are as follows: Maruputhari festival, during the month of December-January, Kalam Kanippu Maholsavam during the month of January and 'Poorolsavam' of March-April. Bharani festival starts, the next day of the Arattu festival of Trikkannad temple.
This temple has close connection with the Trikkannad temple. The rope used for Dhwajarohanam at Trikkannad temple is used for the Dhwajarohanam in the Palakkunnu temple also for Bharani festival. Bharani festival ends with the Auirathiri Ulsavam. The temple has jurisdiction over the areas of Pallikkere Panchayath, Udma Panchayath, Chemnad Panchayath, and Kolathur village of Bedadka Panchayath.
Every year on the festival day the deities of these areas give great offerings to the temple. These offerings are taken to the temple through colourful processions. These processions are known as Kazhchae. After the end of each processions, brilliant fire works display, is conducted. A large number of people from all over the district and other districts and Karnataka state attend the Bharani festival. They observe this especially to witness the Kazhchas and the fire works display which lasts for hours.
Bekal Fort Mukhya Prana temple festival:
This temple is situated inside the Bekal Fort. Rama Navami is celebrated in the Bekal Fort. This Mukhya prana temple is dedicated to 'Hanuman' and it happens during the month of March- April every year. Various programmes are conducted in connection with the festival like Kathakali, Yakshagana, Harikatha, Ganamela etc., which attracts large number of people.
Madiyan Kooloom Temple at Madiyan, Ajanur village:
The famous Madiyan Koolam temple is situated about 5 km from Kanhangad. This is the head quarters of Hosdurg Taluk. The main deity of the temple is Bhadrakali or Kalarathri. There are also other deities like Kshethra Palan, Bhagavathy, Bhairavan etc. A peculiarity of this temple lies in that a Brahmin priest performs pooja only in the noon. In the morning and evening poojas are performed by poojaris from Maniyani sect. The festivals in this temple are very famous which are known as 'Kalasam' and Pattulsavam. 'Kalasam' comes in the month of Edavam i.e. during May and June every year. 'Pattulsavam' falls in the month of Dhanu i.e. December-January every year. Theyyam is performed during these festivals. Different interesting features as for example Cultural performances religious rites grant procession Fire works display etc. makes these festivals colourful.
Mannanpurathkavu, Nileshwar:
Mannan purath kavu temple is situated at Nileshwar. This is near to the railway gate. This temple is dedicated to 'Durga' where a sect called Pidarar performs poojas. Another specialty of this temple is that sacrificing cocks performs Kurathi here. A large number of devotees visit this temple on Tuesday and Friday. These are the two important days of the temple. Annual festival in this temple is known as 'Kalasam', which comes during Edavam or in the month of May every year. Theyyam is performed on these festival days. Cultural performances and religious rites attract thousands of devotees. Many tourists every year come to visit the place with full interest.
Muslim Festivals:
Kasargod acquired considerable importance as a center of Islam over the years. It is situated at the west coast. The District is famous for Mosques. Every year festivals known as Urooses are celebrated in the Makhams or grave of holly persons. The Makhams are also known as Jarams and Urooses as Nerchas. The famous Urooses in the district are as follows.
Malik Dinar Mosque Uroos:
The mosque named as Juma Masjid that is one of the best kept and most attractive in the district is located at Thalangara. It is situated at 2 km away from Kasargod Town. This is believed to have been founded by Malik Ibu Dinar. It contains the grave of Malik Ibu Dinar and is sacred to Muslims. The Uroos conducted in the name of Malik Ibu Mohammed. This festival once in every three years is very famous. Religious speech is also conducted in connection with this. The one special feature of the Uroos is poor feeding. The Uroos attracts Pilgrims from all over India as well.
Thangal Uppappa Uroos at Muhayuddin Juma Masjid, Nellikkunnu, Kasargod:
Thangal Uppappa Uroos is situated at Muhayyuddin Juma Masjid, Nellikkunnu near Kasargod Town. It is celebrated once in two years in memory of Thangal Uppappa Valiyullahi Mohammed Haneef. This is celebrated during the month of December-January. The Nercha celebration lasts for seven to eleven days. Religious speeches by Muslim scholars are also conducted in connection with the festival. On the last day of the Uroos, mass feeding takes place. It attracts many people at the time of closing the festival.
Eriyadi Makham Uroos is located at Bandadukka, whereas Parappally Makham Uroos at Ambalathara in Hosdurg Taluk. Bekal Makham Uroos Paika Manavatty Uroos etc. are also famous and attracts a large number of people irrespective of caste and religion. Thus a huge number of muslim pilgrims visit the place throughout the year.
Christian Festivals:
The Perunal Festivals of Churches are also famous as far as the Kasaragod District is concerned. There are two famous churches, which were constructed during 1879-1880 period. They are at Kasaragod and Bela.
This church is placed at Kasargod. Here it is situated near the Railway Station Road constructed during the year 1880. The Thirunal Festivals of the Church attracts thousands of people every year.
The Mother Dolorus Church of Bela:
This church is placed at the distance about 11 km on the Kumbla-Badiadka Route. Recently this Roman Catholic Church under the Mangalore district has celebrated it Centenary. Perunal or Thirunal festival in the Church comes during the month of December every year that attracts large number of people.
Some of the churches that are constructed between 1911 and 1942 are mainly named as Sacred Heart Church at Vorkady, Church at Manjeshwar, ChristuRaja Church at Kayyar, St. Veronica Church at Kumbla, Sacred Heart Church, Ukkinadukka, St.Johns Britanica Church at Narampadi, etc. The Perunals of these churches attracts large number of People.
The other Churches in the District were built after 1943. At that time the Christians migrated from Travancore to the Eastern hilly areas of the district. The important among them are Rajapuram Church, Ranipuram Church, St. Antonys Church at Balal, Christu Raja Church Bheemanadi, St. Marys Church at Kadumeni, St.Geevarghese Church at Kanhiradukkam, St.Sebastian Church at Maloth, Marypuram St.Mary's Church at Karivedakam, St.Thomas Church, Thomapuram, Cherupuzha at Vellarikundu. All these Churches celebrate the annual festivals or Thirunals in a corresponding manner, which attracts thousands of people. Grand processions and firework display makes these festivals colorful.
Posted by: krishnamurthy_gr@yahoo.co.in
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