Panchayath/ Municipality/ Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Dharmadom Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus statio Chirakunni Bus Stop – 1.6 km

Nearest Railway Dharmadom Railway Station- 5 km statio ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Kannur International Airport – 21 km

Sree Temple Post Andalur , Village Dharmadam, CONTACT , 670661 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME February–March (Kumbham) Annual 5 days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

The name Andalurkavu (Andar-villoor-) can be interpreted as the grove (sacred kavu) where the sacred weapons of deities are kept. There are interpretations that say this kavu was created by Sree Parasuraman, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

There are interesting interpretations behind names of all the other places that surround Andalur like Melur, Palayad and Dharmadam. The Andalur, especially the Andalurkavu is the most divine place for the people in all these areas. The main dieties of the temple includes Sreeraman, Lakshmanan, Hanuman and seeths, hence devasankalpam her is closely attached with Ramayana. This place is mentioned in the Sundarakandam and Yudhakandam of Ramayana.

Local Approximately 10000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

Nirmalyam Kavil kayaral The annual festival is a wonderful visualization of devotional Chakakothal unity of a place where people still follow very old and sacred Kudavravu customs throughout the season. It is the time the village gets Athiralan themselves into a feeling in which they becomes part of and Thuvakkari enjoy the happiness of being part of the glory of Lord Rama. Malakkari It is the festival where it pictures the great culture merging Vettakorumakan the normal and common life with great old mythologies. Ponmakan Puthukechavan The festival starts on the second day of month Nagakandan Kumbham with the rituals like Kavil kayaral and Cheriya bappuram Chakakothal. Kudavravu is performed on the third day followed by different forms of theyyam on the succeeding days. After Nirmalyam at 4:30 am in the morning, the first appeareance is made by Athiralan theyyam and daughters.

After that different forms of theyyam like- Thuvakkari, Malakkari, Vettakorumakan, Ponmakan, Puthukechavan, Nagakandan, Cheriya bappuran , etc is performed in the temple premises which is witnessed by thousands of devotees.

In the afternoon Theyyam conceptualizing Ilangaruvan and Puthupadi, with the theme of war is performed. This depicts the wasr between Bali and Sugreeva. In theevening the main presiding deity called Daivathar appears who is adorned with Ponmudi. Later Daivathar circumambulates the temple premises with the accompaniment of Bappuran .

These rituals and theyyams are continued till the nineteenth day and the festival comes to an end on the twentieth day after storing the Thiruvabharanam in the ara.