VINAYAKA CHATHURTHI MALLIYOOR SREE MAHA GANAPATHY TEMPLE

Panchayat/ Municipality/ Manjoor Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District Kottayam

Nearest Town/ Kuruppanthara Junction – 1.9 Km Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus station Kuruppanthara 6th Mile Bus Stop – 3.1 Km

Nearest Railway Ettumanoor Railway Station – 11.3 Km station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 68.2 Km

Malliyoor Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple Malliyoor Sri Mahaganapathi Kshethram Trust Manjoor – 686603 Phone: +91-4829-243455, :+91-4829-243465, CONTACT :+91-9946407271 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.malliyoor.com DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME August - September Annual 8 Days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

One day Goddess Parvathi was preparing for a bath. As she didn’t want to be disturbed, she told Nandi, her husband ’s Bull, to guard the door. Nandi faithfully took his post, intending to carry out Parvathi’s wishes. But, when Shiva came home and naturally wanted to come inside, Nandi had to let him pass, being loyal first to Shiva. Parvathi was angry at this slight, but even more than this, at the fact that she had no one as loyal to Herself as Nandi was to Shiva. So, taking the turmeric paste (for bathing) from her body and breathing life into it, she created , declaring him to be her own loyal son. The next time Parvathi wished to bathe, she posted Ganesha on guard duty at the door. In due course, Shiva came home, only to find this strange boy telling him he couldn’t enter his own house! Furious, Shiva ordered his army to destroy the boy, but they all failed. Seeing that this was no ordinary boy, the usually peaceful Shiva decided he would have to fight him, and in his divine fury severed Ganesha’s head, killing him instantly. When Parvathi learned of this, she was so enraged and insulted that she decided to destroy the entire Creation! Lord , being the Creator, naturally had his issues with this, and pleaded that she reconsider her drastic plan. She said she would, but only if two conditions were met: one, Ganesha be brought back to life, and two, that he be forever worshipped before all the other gods. Shiva, having cooled down by this time, and realizing his mistake, agreed to Parvathi’s conditions. He sent Brahma out with orders to bring back the head of the first creature he crosses that is laying with its head facing North. Brahma soon returned with the head of a strong and powerful , which Shiva placed onto Ganesha’s body. Breathing new life into him, he declared Ganesha to be his own son as well, and gave him the status of being foremost among the gods, and leader of all the ganas (classes of beings), Ganapati.

Vinayaka Chathurthy, the day on which Lord Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvathy, is observed with great fervor and devotion at Malliyoor. Vinayaka Chaturthy falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon (suklapakshm) in the month of Bhadra/Chingam (August-September). The bountiful Lord Sidddhi Vinayaka confers all blessings and grants all wishes to the devotee on that day.

Local Approximately 8000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

The Vinayaka Chathurthi Festival starts with Flag Hoisting (Kodiyettu). Special poojas, observances and fasts are held Kodiyettu at the Malliyoor temple on Vinayaka Chathuruthy, to pay Ashtadravya Ganapathy obeisance to the Lord of Wisdom and Grace. The festivities Homam include special poojas like Ashtadravya Ganapathy Homam, Kazhcha Sreebali Kazhcha Sreebali, Mahaprasadamoottu, the worship of Mahaprasadamoottu (Gaja Pooja) and Music concerts. Percussion Gaja Pooja music like Chenda Melam, Panchari Melam etc will be Chenda Melam conducted. Mahaganapathi Homam with ten thousand and Panchari Melam eight coconuts is the attraction of this festival. The festival Arattu ends with the holy bath (Arattu) of the deity in the temple pond.