Panchayath/ Municipality/ Block Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Irinjalakuda – 2 km Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus statio Irinjalakuda Mini Bus Station – 750 m

Nearest Railway Irinjalakuda Railway Station – 190 m statio ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 36.1 km

Sree Viswanathapuram Temple, SNBS Samajam, Irinjalakuda – 680 121 Ph : +91-480-2820666 CONTACT

DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME January - February Annual 6 days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Viswanathapuram Temple also called as Viswanathapuram Subramanya Swamy Temple is located in Irinjalakuda town of of . The temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya and is built in typical traditional Kerala style architecture. Diwan Natayana Menon laid its foundation in 1925 and the temple was built according to the ideology of Shree Narayan Guru one of the most famous social reformer. With an image of a guru, Sree Subramanya Swami, who is advising “Pranavasaramsham” to his father Sree Parameshwaran, facing east is the presiding deity. Subdeities are Ganapathi, Sashtavu, Durgadevi, Idumban swami, Nagarajavu and Yakshi. Abhishekams with milk, tender , rose water, Bhasn’la etc, are the main offerings. This temple was basically built for the suffering low caste Hindus like the ezhavas, at a time when they were not allowed admission into Hindu adoration centres. This temple was constructed under the supervision of the Sree Narayana Bhakta Samudhayodharani Samajam (SNBS) which started to function on the 16th day of the month of Dhanu in 1093. On 20th day of the month Vrishchika 1100 in the calendar the foundation stone was laid for the temple construction and it was completed on 1103. On the same year, as per orders from Sree. Narayana Guru, Srimadh Bodanandha Swamigal, who was the successor of Guru and the fIrst Madathipathy installed the deities at the temple, and allowed everybody irrespective of religion, caste or creed to enter the temple for adoration.

Local Over 1000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

Thousands of devotees irrespective of caste and creed All Kerala Drama throng at the shrine during the festival. An impressive Competition section of this six-day celebration is All Kerala Drama Special poojas Competition conducted by Sree Narayana Yuvajana Ganapathi Homam Samath. Kalasabhishekam Special poojas, including Ganapathi Homam and Colourful kavadi Kalasabhishekam will be conducted. Colourful kavadi processions processions, accompanied by percussion ensembles, pepp Kootiyezhunnellippu up the spirit of the celebrations. There will be four sets of Poomodal kavadis , which represents various regions including Pullur, Thuravankadu, Padinjattumuri and Kombara. Kavidis used in this festival are mainly gopura kavadis and those in the shape of bouquets. More than nine elephants will be featured in the Kootiyezhunnellippu in the afternoon. Poomodal is also an event during the festival, in which the idol will be covered with lots of flowers. The temple is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights.