Panchayat/ Municipality/ Papinissery Panchayat Corporation LOCATION District Kannur Nearest Town/ Keechery Kunnu Bus Stop – 650 m Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus Station Keechery Kunnu Bus Stop – 650 m Nearest Railway Kannur Railway Station – 12.2Km Station ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Calicut International Airport – 126 Km Vadeshvaram Sree Mahashiva Temple Keecheri P.O, Aroli Kannur , Kerala, 670561 Phone: 0497 2786281 CONTACT Mobile: 9446774351 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME February-March Annually 3 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) This temple is more than 1500 years old. Legend says that once this temple was owned by King Vadukovarmman. This temple was destroyed once, later it was reconstructed. It is the only temple in India with Ashtadala sreekovil. Lord Shiva is the main deity. Godess Parvathy, Sasthavu holding amritha kalasham (nectar of immortality), Ganapathy, Dakshinamoorthy, Kirathamoorthy, Sreekrishanan and Gopalaswamy are the sub deities. Since Lord Shiva is the main deity, Shivarathri is celebrated in a grand manner. Shivarathri is celebrated in gratitude of Lord Shiva who saved the whole world by drinking deathly poison Kalakooda Visham. Festival is celebrated in such a manner that it ends on the day of Shivarathri. Local About 15,000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Cultural Programs and folk Shivarathri festival falls in the Malayalam month of arts Kumbam (February/March). It is a 3 days spectacular Ottanthullal event. Temple premises are beautifully decorated by lights Chakyarkoothu and illuminations. There are special poojas and offerings Mohiniyattam during the festival period. Annadanam is held on all days. Bharathanatyam Traditional performing arts and music and dance are Kadhaprasangam staged during the festival period. Numerous cultural Spiritual discourses programs and temple arts are also performed on all days Seminars of the festival. Ottanthullal, Chakyarkoothu and other Percussion Music classical dance forms are performed with much Musical Concerts importance. Musical concerts are also performed there. Dance.