Panchayat/ Municipality/ Ajanur Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Iqbal Junction – 2.1 Km Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus Station Iqbal Junction Bus Stop – 2.1 Km

Nearest Railway Railway Station – 2.9 Km Station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport International Airport – 84.7 Km

Sree Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple Ajanur Kadapuram Kolavayal P.O Kanhangad – 671531 CONTACT Contact: Ajanur Panchayat Office Phone: +91-467-2266386 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME March – April (Meenam) Annual 9 Days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

Poora Mahotsavam is an annual festival celebrated at the Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple in Ajanur. The 9-day event is a thanksgiving to the divine presence at the temple. It is said that one day, while Ambadi, a member of Ajanur Kadapuram Bhandaraveedu was fishing in the backwaters in the evening, a beautiful lady appeared before him and asked for food. He led the lady to his house and prepared food using the fish he got from the backwaters. While he was serving food to the lady another lady came with the same need. He invited her for food, but she refused to have non vegetarian food. She was then offered Ilaneer (tender coconut). That night, Ambadi had a dream that indicated that the ladies who visited his house were Kurumba Moothaval and Ilayaval and following this he made a temple for them near the Bhandaraveedu.

Local Over 10,000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

The festival begins with the holy flag hoisting ceremony or Thrikkodiyettam Thrikkodiyettu followed by Kalavara Nirakkal on the first day. Kalavara Nirakkal From the second day till the eighth day there are various Prabhatha Pooja rituals like Prabhatha Pooja, Deepardhana, Sandhyamelam Deepardhana etc. The ritualistic Pooramkuli and Arattu are held on the Sandhyamelam final day of festivities. Fireworks at night followed by Pooramkuli descending of the flag marks the culmination of the festival. Arattu A number of cultural events are organized during this time. Fireworks Thousands of devotees gather at the temple premises to Cultural programs witness rituals associated with the festival