THOOTHA SREE THOOTHA BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE

Panchayat/ Municipality/ Shornur Municipality Corporation

LOCATION District Palakkad

Nearest Town/ Thootha Juma Masjid- 280 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus station Thootha Bus Stop– 2 m

Nearest Railway Cherukara Railway Station – 10 Km station Angadipuram Railway Station – 13 Km ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Kozhikode International Airport –55 Km

Palakkad - Cherplassery - Perinthalmanna Road Thootha, Palakkad-679357 Phone :+91-4662-224417 CONTACT Website:www.thoothatemple.com

DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME April Annual 3 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

Thootha is a beautiful village includes the natural beauty of Palakkad and Malappuram, and near the thootha river which flows across the two districts. As the goddess of the village, Sree Thootha Bhagavathy residing on the banks of the river at Thootha Bhagavathy Temple. Thootha Pooram is considered as the last pooram of the festival season of Malabar and its one of the biggest pooram after the pooram. , Kalam Pattu, Thalappoli, Chavittukali, Nayar vela, Kathir vela, Harijan vela, Kala vela, Aana Pooram and Harijan pooram, etc are part of this festival.

It is said that once when a Brahmin woman was bathing in the Thootha river she found a pot of milk floating. Astonished to find it, she took it and kept on the bank and went on to finish her bath. But when she returned to take it she found that it had stuck to the ground and she was unable to lift it up. She informed her family about this miracle and later it was found that it belonged to the Sree Parkoli Bhagavathi of and that the pot contained the Devi's Chaitanya. The Brahmin family then went ahead and installed the pot with proper rituals and started conducting regular pooja. Years later the temple, the rituals and sorrounding area passed on to the hands of the Kannambra Nair family. The temples and sacred groves are known for its unique festivals. Two festivals at each end of the river namely kalavela and Thootha pooram are the major ones. The festival season of Valluvanad concludes with the pooram of the Thootha Bhagavathy Temple, which attracts hordes of devotees. This pooram falls on April on every year. The festival will see 50 caparisoned elephants paraded in grand procession.

Local Approximately 6000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

Aarattu and Kala Vela A sparkling spectacle to behold, Thootha Pooram marks the Kala Varavu end of the pooram (festival gathering) season in the Malabar Paana and Kalayirakkam region of . Situated on the banks of the Thootha Melam and Kala Kali River, Sree Thootha Bhagavathy temple is one of the main Ezhunallippu Bhadra Kali temples in Malabar. Thousands of people from Malappuram and arrive to witness this Paana Adiyathiram annual Pooram festival. Harijan pooja Arattu Thootha pooram is an annual festival held in the Pooram star in the month of Edavam. The festivities are embellished by the traditional percussion ensembles comprising , Pacharimelam and Pandimelam. Famous for its elephant pageantry, the caparisoned elephants bearing muthukkudas (sequined, glittering umbrellas) and venchamarams (white whisks) make a delightful sight. A real visual treat, the grand pooram winds up each year with the kaala vela (procession of decorated motifs of bulls).