Panchayath/ Municipality/ Pallivasal Panchayat Corporation LOCATION District Idukki Nearest Town/ Kunchithanny – 1.5 Km Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus statio Kunchithanny – 1.5 Km Nearest Railway Aluva Railway Station –99 Km statio ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 98 Km Sree Narayanodayam Shiva Temple, Kunchithanny, Idukki Phone: 9447901831 CONTACT DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME February - March Annual 9 days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the God Shiva. Maha Shivaratri means "the Great Night of Shiva”. Unlike most festivals which are celebrated during the day, the Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night. This festival is religious in nature and universally observed by all Hindus. It is also believed that on Shivarathri, Lord Shiva became Neelkantha or the blue-throated one by swallowing the deadly poison that came up during the churning of Kshir Sagar or the milky ocean. The poison was so deadly that even a drop in his stomach, which represents the universe, would have annihilated the entire world. Hence, he held it in his neck thus causing the throat to turn blue. Sree Narayanodayam Shiva temple celebrate Shivaratri for 9 days. This is a 60 years old temple with Shiva as the main deity and Devi, Subramanyan, Ayyappan, Ganapthi, Naga Rajav, Nagayakshi and Rakshas are treated as sub deities. Local Around 10000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Flag Hoisting Hidumban Pooja The festival is celebrated over a period of 9 days and Kavadi Khoshayathra starts with flag hoisting ceremony. From the first day Mahaprasada Oottu onwards events such as Ganapathi Homam, Prasada Parakkezhunnallippu oottu, Kalasabhishekam and Vilakkinezhunnallippu are Thapapoli Khoshayathra held there. On the second last day late in the evening the Temple Arts custom called Pallivetta is carried out on the belief that Folk Arts Lord Shiva is on his way for hunting. The last day begins Cultural Programs with the kavadi khoshayaathra, one the main event of the festival and ends with thalapoli and aarattu.