Panchayat/ Municipality/ Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Mayyil Post Office – 450 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus Station Mayyil Bus Station – 650 m

Nearest Railway Kannur Railway Station – 21.3 Km ACCESSIBILITY Station

Nearest Airport Calicut International Airport – 129 Km

Velam Sree Maha Ganapathi Temple Kattamapally Road, Mayyil Kannur - 670602 CONTACT Phone: +91-460-2275900 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME February Annual 2 Days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Mahashivarathri Mahotsavam is a two-day festival celebrated at the ancient Velam Mahaganapathi Temple. The temple is special as although the main deity appears to be Rajarajeshwara (Lord Shiva), Lord Ganesha, the sub-deity is accorded more importance; the complex being named after the Lord. This is the only temple in where two Shiva temples occur inside a single inner ambulatory. There are two sanctum sanctorums dedicated to Rajarajeshwara and Vaidyanatha, both deities being manifestation of Lord Shiva in the enclosed inner ambulatory. The festival is celebrated to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva and is associated with the legend of the Lord becoming a saviour by drinking the poison obtained while churning of the ocean. Worshipping Lord Shiva during the festival is believed to liberate one from the cycle of birth and death as believed in Hinduism.

Local About 2000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Nirmalya Darshanam Mahashivarathri Mahotsavam is a ritualistic festival dedicated Abhishekam to Lord Shiva. It is marked by various ceremonies like Mahaganapathi Homam Palliyunarthal, Nirmalyam, Mahaganapathi Homam etc. at Thidambu Nritham day break. Thidambu Nritham and Irattathayambaka are the Irattathayambaka major attractions of the festival. Cultural events including Special Poojas dance, musicals and drama are also staged during evenings Cultural Programmes on these days.