Panchayath/ Municipality/ Kannur Corporation Corporation

LOCATION District Kannur

Nearest Town/ Kannur sub Jail– 260 m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus Statio Kannur Bus stand – 800m

Nearest Railway Kannur Railway Station – 1.1 Km Statio ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Calicut International Airport – 115 Km

Kanchi Sree Kammakshi Amman Temple Kakkad Road, South Bazar Kannur, Kerala 670002 CONTACT Phone: 9895984126 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME September - October Annual 10 Days

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Kanchi Sree Kammakshi Amman Temple is the family temple of Yadava community. This temple has centuries old history. Navarathri festival is an annual festival conducted in the temple on the basis of the story of the battle between the great Goddess and the demon . Rambha, the king of , enticed by the beauty of a she-buffalo, married it. Mahishasura was born from the union. As an , Mahishasura wanted to wage war against the Devas. To make himself invincible, Mahishasura performed austerities to . Brahma refused him the boon of immortality; instead, gave him a boon such that his death would happen only at the hands of a woman. Mahishasura imagined that this was the equivalent of immortality since he believed it was impossible for a woman to slay a person of his strength. He started a war with the Devas. The Goddess thus created was Durga. Durga led a battle against Mahishasura and killed him.

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

The Navarathri Festival starts with Special Poojas such as Ayudha Pooja, Pusthaka Pooja etc. Cultural programs like Musical concerts, classical dance forms and the like are Cultural Programs staged during the festival. Vidyarambham is a special Annadanam ritual where small children are initialized into the world of Vidyarambham learning by famous personalities or elderly family Ratholsavam members. Annadanam is a food offering conducted in the temple during the festival. Ratholsavam is held during Vijayadashami day.